Truex Jr. Busch Champion again

Chance 2 Motorsports and driver Martin Truex, Jr. earned their second championship in as many years on Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. But, to say it was a day filled with drama leading up to the crown is an understatement.

First, Truex crashed his primary No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet during qualifying. As a result, he had to roll out the back up car and start the race 42nd – with no laps on it, at all.

It was an entire DEI effort as red Budweiser, NAPA blue, black DEI and red Bass Pro team members pitched in. The back-up car was worked on, engine changed, fuel cell swapped out, shocks mounted and such in time for it to roll through inspection.

Then, the race started and Truex quickly let everyone know that he meant business.

He went from 42nd to 15th in just 30 laps around the 1.5-mile oval. From there, he entered to top-five by lap 48 talking on the radio like he wanted to win the race; and the championship all on the same day.

Just 10 laps later, the pang of distress was felt throughout the team when he radioed in that the right front was vibrating. Two laps later, he hit pit road to change both right side tires under green and returned to action 31st one lap down.

A timely caution on lap 75 returned him to lead lap status and, just like before, he rocketed from the back to the front. When the checkered flag finally flew, he was seventh on the grid and was the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series champion by 68 points.

“I just want to thank you guys for everything this year,” Truex radioed to the team. “I know we’ve had some rough spots, but we stuck together and won this thing. Thank you.”

Congratulations to the entire Chance 2 Motorsports team on their championship, the second-in-a row.