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2016 Season In Review: Martin Truex Jr.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 - Qualifying

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 04: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Toyota, stands on the grid during Salute to Veterans Qualifying Fueled by Texas Lottery for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 4, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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Martin Truex Jr.

CREW CHIEF: Cole Pearn

TEAM: Furniture Row Racing

POINTS: 11th

WINS: 4 (Charlotte I, Darlington, Chicago, Dover II)

LAPS LED: 1,809 (more than three times his previous highs of 581 laps in 2007 and 567 in 2015)

TOP 5s: 8 (tied for career best in 2015)

TOP 10s: 17 (third-best in his career – had 22 top-10s in 2015 and 19 in 2012)

POLES: 5 (Kansas I, Charlotte I, Pocono II, Talladega II, Martinsville II)

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Truex had an outstanding season, following up on the great year he had in 2015. He earned a career-high four wins (never had more than one win in any previous season), scored a single season career-best five poles, made the Chase for the second consecutive season and had a career-best single season starting average (9.1) ... The highlight of the year was his win in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, leading a record 392 of 400 laps.

WHAT WENT WRONG: Truex had a number of pit road issues – mistakes both by himself (like speeding) and his crew, as well as questionable strategy calls – that likely cost him either additional wins or higher finishes. … When the Chase began, Truex appeared ready to once again reach the Championship 4 round like he did in 2015. As it turned out, he failed to advance past the second round. … Also had four DNFs, including three in the last five Chase races.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2017: Truex and Furniture Row Racing have finally established themselves as significant powers and threats to win in virtually every race. And that’s solely as a one-car team. That changes in 2017 when FRR expands to two teams with the addition of phenom and 2015 Camping World Truck Series champion, Erik Jones. Having a teammate will only make Truex better, and the organization’s ongoing technical relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing will continue to pay greater dividends.

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