Martin Truex Jr. was furious with Jeff Gordon for spinning him out prior to the big wreck on a restart that ended Truex’s day.
Martin Truex Jr. Angry At Jeff Gordon For Ruining His Day
Truex had been running inside the top 10 when Gordon dive-bombed the No. 56 car inside Turn 11 (the carousel turn at the end of the track) and spun him out.
After a caution was called, Truex was mired in the middle of the pack and got caught up in a multicar wreck that ruined any chance of a good finish.
Truex placed the blame squarely on Gordon for the poor track position that led to being involved in the big wreck.
"I guess Jeff figured if he couldn't catch us on the racetrack he was going to spin us out on the restart," Truex said. "How many times have I spun Jeff Gordon out? How many times have I spun anybody out?
“I lifted for them guys on those restarts; they get all stupid and crazy and wild, and I lift and wait and they just run into you. It’s stupid!”
Truex was particularly upset because he said Gordon wasn’t anywhere close to him heading into Turn 11 before the 24 car took him out.
Because Gordon was “six or seven car lengths” behind, Truex said “I didn’t think I had anything to worry about.”
“Next thing I know, I’m spun around,” Truex said. “You know, if he’s a car length or two back, you take a defensive line and prepare for him trying to dive-bomb you. But he was seven car lengths back, there’s no way he should have been where he was.”
Truex said he was prepared for Gordon’s excuses, but he refused to buy it.
"I know he's going to say, 'Well, Juan (Montoya) was trying to pass me and I was trying to block him.'" Truex said. "I don't care.
“Just because he’s trying to pass you, it’s alright for you to spin me out? No! Let him pass you, then.”
Gordon and Truex have different philosophies, according to Truex. If he had been in Gordon’s shoes and the decision had been between either getting passed and losing one spot or wrecking the car in front of him, “I would have lost a spot,” he said.
“That’s the difference between me and him,” Truex said, raising his voice. “That’s why I’m here, that’s why he’s out there (still on the track), that’s why I’m pissed off.”
Immediately after the incident, Truex vowed payback on both Gordon and Montoya for continuing to take advantage of him.
“I don’t give a shit!” Truex said on the team radio. “I’m going to wreck em both! I’m tired of this! They’re done! Bye bye Jeff and f*&$* Juan!”
So did Truex plan to come through on his radio threat to get revenge on Gordon and Montoya in a future race?
“We’ll see,” he said before turning and walking away.
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