As Sunday’s NASCAR race neared its end, Denny Hamlin held a tenuous lead with Martin Truex Jr. rapidly closing in with fresher tires. Uncertainty loomed over Hamlin’s fuel reserves, adding to the tension of the final laps.
Truex seemed poised to secure his first win of the 2024 season until Kyle Busch’s late-race spin triggered a caution, extending the race into a two-lap overtime.
The advantage Truex held vanished as all lead lap cars pitted for fresh tires and fuel. Despite opting for four tires, Truex found himself starting 10th on the restart due to his pit strategy.
In a heart-pounding finish, Kyle Larson edged past Hamlin and Chris Buescher to claim victory, marking the closest finish in NASCAR history. Truex managed only fourth place after struggling to advance from his 10th-place restart position.
Reflecting on the final restart, Truex expressed frustration, citing the challenge of making significant progress from 10th place with just two laps remaining. He believed a quicker clearance of Chase Elliott and a single-file entry into Turn 3 might have given him a shot at victory.
Truex lamented the missed opportunity, feeling confident that he could have seized the lead and won the race if it had remained caution-free. Despite maintaining his position as the highest-ranked winless driver in the series standings, he was left pondering what might have been.
