CORNELIUS, N.C. – No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. finished 21st in Saturday night’s rain-delayed, 400-lap NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway. Truex started ninth and looked to be one of the fastest on the track throughout the race taking over the lead for seven laps beginning on lap 242.

"I'm going to be honest with you, the way our cars are running and as fast as we've been the last six or seven weeks we're dangerous,” said Truex during the Chase celebration with participating drivers. “I feel like tonight we had a shot at the win. The way the race played out was kind of crazy and we made probably a poor decision in not pitting there, but we've got the speed to do it each and every week. Different race tracks from here to -- mile-and-a-half program is really strong. Man, I feel good. I know we're kind of an underdog and not a lot of people expect us to do much. It's a good position to be in. We just need to be smart; make good decisions and our NAPA Toyotas are strong enough to do this thing. Looking forward to going out and having some fun and hopefully we'll put together 10 good races and be in the hunt."

During a lap-272 caution, with rain falling and heavier rain threatening, the No. 56 stayed on the track with older tires. The rain never came and Truex’s older tires couldn’t match the cars on fresh Goodyear tires.

Truex dropped through the field and couldn’t get a caution in the latter stages of the race needed to regain the lost spots.

Winning his second Cup race of the season was Michael Waltrip Racing’s Clint Bowyer. Rounding out the top-five were Jeff Gordon, MWR’s Mark Martin, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth.

The NAPA AUTO PARTS team returns to action Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway in the first of NASCAR’S 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup. Truex will start the Chase tied for ninth but just 12 points out of first.

"I think we're good at all the tracks coming up in the Chase,” stated Truex. “I think we've got a lot of good tracks in the Chase. Martinsville is not one of our greatest, but we've made a lot of strides there and we ran top-five in the spring. We had a good test there a month ago. Talladega is a wild card for everybody, obviously. Charlotte is probably the only other one I don't have a lot of confidence at. Everywhere else we go, I feel like we're a threat not only to go run good, but to go after some wins. I know we haven't been to victory lane yet this year, but we've been damn close and we we're knocking on that door again tonight. We were sitting right there with a chance and just got to keep doing that and keep being smart and hopefully things will go our way.”

CHASE STANDINGS
Denny Hamlin	2012
Jimmie Johnson	2009
Tony Stewart	2009
Brad Keselowski	2009
Greg Biffle	2006
Clint Bowyer	2006
Dale Earnhardt Jr.	2003
Matt Kenseth	2003
Kevin Harvick	2000
Martin Truex Jr.	2000
Kasey Kahne	2000
Jeff Gordon	2000

Race Results

Championship Standings