likes the 500-horsepower cars or prefers competing against the best IRL
and World of Outlaw racers."In nine out of 10 races, I run up front," said Mark, who blew past Matt Kenseth on a late restart last night to win his 12th career IROC race. "That's what I love about the racing. I like going around in front of these 11 other guys. That's kind of cool."
With the victory, Mark became the all-time winningest IROC driver, moving ahead of Dale Earnhardt and Al Unser Jr. Mark, who finished second in the Nextel Cup points race in 2002, has won the four-race IROC series four times in his career.
"The king of IROC won the race," said Mark Truex Jr., who claimed second place after sitting in last with approximately 15 laps left in the 40-circuit race. "I'll finish second to him any time he wants. Another 20 feet and maybe I would have gotten him, but another 20 feet and I might have been third."
Kenseth, Mark's Roush Racing teammate, spent most of the race in the lead, getting his back bumper pounded by former Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves. But in the 36th lap, Castroneves lost several positions. Meanwhile, Mark closed on the leader and had to brake, which touched off a logjam that knocked five cars out of the race.
"You can tell the different drafting techniques with Mark and the guys who
do it all the time," said third-place finisher Bobby Hamilton, who also
raced in last night's Craftsman Truck Series race. "It's easy to get lured
out and be a hero. But when you pull out, it doesn't work very [well] for
you. I did it once because Mark motioned for me to go outside, but we both
got messed up. You have to try. You do it once or twice, you know not to do
it anymore."Sebastien Bourdais slammed into Scott Pruett, and defending Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch slammed into the wall. Bourdais, Pruett, Busch, Castroneves, and Steve Kinser were forced to the garage, leaving seven cars on the track.
On the restart, Mark battled with Kenseth and Danny Lasoski, who dived low to try for the lead. But Mark came out with the lead and fought off Truex, who tried to maneuver on the high groove at the end.
"That was one of the best races I can remember," Mark said. "It was incredible driving skill coupled with respect."
