Martin Truex Jr says he has a “big hole” in his NASCAR Cup Series resume as he is still yet to win on a short course track.
The 2017 Cup champion is in his first season with Joe Gibbs Racing following the closure of one-time champion outfit Furniture Row Racing at the end of last year.
Truex is yet to win at Martinsville, Bristol or Richmond in the Cup series, but came within inches of doing so at Martinsville last year, pictured below, in his famous clash with eventual 2018 champion Joey Logano.
Recent title winners such as Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson have shown an ability to win on short courses multiple times.
But Truex is yet to win in 78 attempts on a short course despite improved form in the last few seasons.
“For me personally, it is a big hole,” Truex said of not having a short track win in the Cup Series. “We’ve led at places like Richmond.
“I mean so many laps led and dominated races, and can’t find a way to finish it.
“We’ve been second at Bristol, third at Bristol. Led a bunch of laps there two years ago in the spring.
“Just not having one [short course win], it kind of does get to you a little bit knowing how good we’ve been at those places.”
Truex’s improved finishes on short courses have come since his association with Furniture Row Racing and Cole Pearn began in 2014.
Pearn has remained as Truex’s crew chief after their move to JGR, the team Furniture Row had a technical alliance with.
Truex says he has “unfinished” business at Martinsville, but feels he is improving.
“It’s a place that wasn’t one of my favourites early in my career, but the last few years, I feel like I’ve really started to get a handle on it,” he said.
“A lot of that can be attributed to having a really good crew chief and driving fast cars. It would mean a lot to win there especially after how the last race there ended up.”