Truex confident heading to Dover; Larson hopes to avoid ouster from Chase

MARTIN TRUEX JR. and Kyle Larson are in vastly different positions entering the third Chase race Sunday at Dover International Speedway.

By winning the Chase opener at Chicagoland Speedway Sept. 18, Truex, who is second in the standings, automatically advances to the next round. Larson occupies the 12th position in Chase points, the cutoff to avoid elimination.

Following the Citizen Soldier 400 at the Delaware speedway, only the top 12 in points will be eligible for the Chase championship, though those 12, the four eliminated drivers and all others will continue racing for victories through the Chase finale Nov. 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Suggesting that Truex's racing confidence is at an all-time high is putting it mildly.

"We had a lot of confidence going in (to the Chase)," the Mayetta, N.J., native said before last Sunday's New Hampshire Chase race. "Confidence is a big deal in racing. It gives you a lot of momentum going forward.

"All season, we've had a lot of speed in our cars. The switch to Toyota (from Chevrolet) obviously has worked well for us. We have faster race cars and we're smarter than we were a year ago."

Last year, Truex finished fourth in the Chase, his first appearance in the final four. This year, he has won a career-high three races, including two of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series' premier events: the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte and the Southern 500 at Darlington. Truex dominated at Charlotte, leading an astounding 392 of 400 laps.

The only negative in Truex's season was when his No. 78 Furniture Row car failed postrace laser inspections after the Richmond and Chicagoland races. In these inspections, the front and rear alignments on cars must meet required measurements.

"It's such a little thing," Truex said. "We don't want people to look at us as cheaters. We don't need to be talking about that after every race. It's a black eye for our sport."

A media session with Truex, 36, could not end without asking him about his favorite NFL team, the Eagles. Truex has climbed aboard the Carson Wentz Wagon.

"He's been great so far," Truex said. "He's played like a veteran. Hopefully, he'll be a guy who's around a long time." Eagles fans feel the same way.

Meanwhile, Larson, a Californian who grew up in the tunnelvision world of racing, probably wouldn't know Carson Wentz from Carson Palmer. All Larson cares about now is advancing in the Chase.

Larson is five points ahead of Jamie McMurray and Austin Dillon. After finishing 18th and 10th in the first two Chase races, Larson knows he must be better at Dover.

The good news for Larson is, at the spring race at Dover, he led the second-most laps (85) and finished second. He and Chase Elliott challenged eventual winner Matt Kenseth over the final laps in one of the most compelling finishes ever at the "Monster Mile."

"That was a great race," Larson, 24, said Tuesday. "The three of us were fighting hard to win. Matt just out-experienced Chase and I."

Addressing how he qualified for his first Chase, Larson said, "Our race cars weren't as fast last year. It's fun knowing we have fast race cars off the truck. I don't feel I've changed much as a driver."

Saturday's Drive Sober 200 race at Dover is the second in the Xfinity Series Chase. This year, NASCAR has introduced the Chase format to Xfinity and the Camping World Truck Series.

Driving the No. 1 Chevrolet, veteran Elliott Sadler won the "X" Chase opener at Kentucky Speedway last Saturday night.

"The Chase brought excitement to the Cup series. I think it will do the same for Xfinity and trucks," Sadler said. "I just wish they had waited a year: I had a 58-point lead (before the Chase)."

The Cup series Chase was designed to create interest in the season homestretch when racing competes against the NFL, college football and major league baseball playoffs.

"Anytime sports fans hear 'playoffs' they get excited," Sadler said. "The attitudes and intensity get ramped up."

Before driving full time in the Xfinity Series, Sadler was a regular in Cup racing. At age 41, he knows it's unlikely he'll be invited back to Cup. Sadler insists he is happy as an "X" racer.

"I'm thrilled to part of this race team," he said. "This sport is so hard. If you're not in a good situation (it's frustrating). I'd rather have a chance to win races and compete for championships."

Several years ago, before heading to Pocono Raceway, the 6-4 Sadler took batting practice with the Phillies. He was offered several college scholarships before devoting himself full time to racing.

"I bounced a couple off the walls," he said proudly.

Citizen Solider 400

Dover International Speedway, Dover, Del.

When: Sunday, 2 p.m.

TV/Radio: NBCSN/WNPV (1440-AM)

Course: 1-mile oval

Distance: 400 laps

Forecast: sunny, upper 60s

Last year's winner: Kevin Harvick

Last year's pole: none, inclement weather

Track qualifying record: Brad Keselowski, 164.444 mph (May 2014)

Track facts: In last year's race, Kevin Harvick led 355 laps in winning his first Dover race in 30 starts. Kyle Busch was second, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was third...Jimmie Johnson has the most wins, by far, at Dover (10). Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman are three-time winners... Weird stat: Non-Chaser Clint Bowyer has consecutive 22nd-place finishes in the season's previous four races.

CHASE POINTS STANDINGS

1. Brad Keselowski ... 2087

2. Martin Truex Jr. ... 2086

3. Kyle Busch ... 2085

4. Matt Kenseth ... 2078

5. Joey Logano ... 2073

6. Kevin Harvick ... 2071

7. Denny Hamlin ... 2071

8. Jimmie Johnson ... 2070

9. Carl Edwards ... 2068

10. Chase Elliott ... 2068

11. Kurt Busch ... 2067

12. Kyle Larson ... 2057

13. Jamie McMurray ... 2052

14. Austin Dillon ... 2052

15. Tony Stewart ... 2046

16. Chris Buescher ... 2027

Up next: Bank of America 500, Oct. 8, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C., 7 p.m.; TV: NBC10; last year's winner: Joey Logano