Winning crew chief Rodney Childers didn’t shed a tear when Martin Truex Jr., who led a race-high 25 laps, fell out late in Sunday’s Cup race at Sonoma Raceway with engine issues.
Childers, who guided Kevin Harvick to the win, was asked in a press conference after the race that while he might not like to see competitors drop out of the race, how much did it benefit his team that Truex exited early.
“Well, you talking about before or after he said, ‘Tell Harvick to kiss my ass.’ ?’' Childers said. “After he said that, I don’t think he was going to win anyway. We didn’t have a very good car that run before. We made some adjustments and the car was a lot better that last run. That’s all.’'
A spokesperson for Furniture Row Racing told NBC Sports said that Childers’ comment about Truex was the first he heard of that remark.
Sherry Pollex, girlfriend of Martin Truex Jr., tweeted that Truex didn’t make the comment Childers said Truex did.
He didn't say that. He was talking about the field. And he was joking. He never mentioned KH's name once on the radio today. https://t.co/JnGc98SJIQ
— Sherry Pollex (@SherryPollex) June 26, 2017
The win is the first of the season for Harvick and Childers and puts Harvick in the playoffs. Truex has a series-high 21 playoff points after scoring a stage win Sunday. Harvick has eight playoff points after scoring five for the race win.