LONG POND, Pennsylvania — Martin Truex Jr. led the most laps for the fourth straight race, only this time he was in front on the one that mattered most, breaking through Sunday at Pocono Raceway for his first Sprint Cup victory since 2013. Truex led 97 of 400 laps and dominated in the No. 78 Chevrolet off late restarts down the stretch. “I knew we were going to get one,” Truex said. “I knew we had the team, I knew we had what it took.” Truex's Furniture Row Racing team had brought the same car to the track each of the last three weeks, with smashing results. Truex didn't win but he led the most laps at Kansas (95), Charlotte (131) and Dover (131). With a new car at Pocono, Truex raced to his third win in 347 career starts. Truex is the 10th driver to win a race this season and qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Kevin Harvick was second, followed by Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano and Kurt Busch. Truex's girlfriend, Sherry Pollex, was diagnosed with cancer last summer and she had various organs removed. She was in victory lane Sunday and greeted Truex with a big hug. “It never gets any better than this,” he said. “It takes time to heal things, especially with what Sherry and I went through. This makes you forget all about it. Sherry's here healthy and she's as excited as I am.” Truex slumped in 2014, his first year with Furniture Row after four seasons with Michael Waltrip Racing. He had just one top-five finish, led all of one lap the entire season and was a dismal 24th in the standings. He has stormed his way toward the best start of his career in his second season. He has 13 top 10s in 14 races with four top-fives. FRR, a one-car operation based in Denver, far removed from NASCAR's North Carolina hub, made the Chase in 2013 with Kurt Busch. Regan Smith had the only other win for Furniture Row. Truex's only Cup wins came in 2007 at Dover and 2013 at Sonoma. Truex's win ended a recent of run of Hendrick Motorsports domination at Pocono. Hendrick drivers had won the last five races at the track, highlighted by Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s sweep last season. — AP
