Toyota on Truex's win: “We knew tonight was coming"

Truex won his first Sprint Cup Series race of the season by leading the most miles of any race in NASCAR history while claiming a dominating victory in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In the process, he showed the possibilities of a single-car team when it has aligned itself with strong partners.

“We knew tonight was coming. We’re just so happy for Barney (Visser, FRR team owner). These guys took a chance with Toyota and we couldn’t be happier to get them in the Chase this early,” said Toyota Racing Development President David Wilson, who joined the Victory Lane celebration.

“The last laps were highly, highly stressful. I guess we all had seen what had happened with that team the last two or three times (it appeared they could win). So, on the surface, Martin just controlled that race from start to finish.

“Kevin Harvick was strong and Jimmie (Johnson) was strong and you just never know what can happen in a race like this.”

Coach Gibbs goes to congratulate the No. 78 team

Gibbs, who went out of his way at Kansas Speedway to console Truex on pit road after a pit-road miscue stole what appeared to be another dominant victory, also went to Victory Lane to congratulate Martin and Visser.

JGR supplies chassis and engine support for FRR and also provides the organization’s pit crew.

“It was just a dominating performance. They have a great bunch of guys,” Gibbs said. “It’s great to be a part of what they’re doing. We all have been working together great. They’ve been fast all year and I thought it was just a matter of time.

“I know they are really proud.”

New partnerships don’t always produce such immediate results but Wilson said it is a testament to all involved that he believes the combination is already “exceeding expectations.”

“We thought we might have some work to do, certainly from a cultural perspective. This type of partnership is outside the norm of what Joe Gibbs Racing has been used to,” Wilson said. “I am just as proud and impressed with Joe Gibbs Racing with their willingness to open up and let in another partner.

“You really cannot tell the difference from any of those five cars – it is that level of transparency in the partnership. Given that we are halfway to the Chase and already have all five of our teams with at least one win, we have certainly exceeded any expectations that we may have had.”