Information By: TOYOTA RACING – DARLINGTON, SC
MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
What happened to take you out of the race?
“Clearly me. Yeah, it was all my fault, all my doing. I got a run on the 24 (William Byron) and went to the inside and thought everything was going fine and the car just took off and I ran into him. Obviously, that was on me. I hate it for my guys, Bass Pro Shops, Toyota, everybody. We had a phenomenal race car, and I know this is like the longest race of the year – just a dumb mistake on my part.”
What are your emotions right now knowing you may not make the Playoffs in your final full-time season?
“Yeah, I mean, it sucks. We’ve had a miserable two months. Fast cars and nothing to show for it. Again tonight – tonight was on me. Sorry to my team and all the guys who work so hard.”
What happened leading up to the accident?
“Yeah, I just got a run on the 24 (William Byron) off of (turn) four, got to the inside off of (turn) one and the car just slid more than I expected. Brand new tires, usually you can kind of keep them from sliding up into that. Got on the outside and it just took off on me and I got in the left rear of the 24. Wrecked myself, wrecked (Ryan) Blaney. It’s inexcusable for lap one, I know better.”
Will you stick around for the rest of the race to see how it plays out?
“Yeah, I don’t know. I honestly have no idea. This is miserable. I just hate it for my team and Bass Pro Shops and Toyota – everybody that works so hard on our car on the 19 team. I feel terrible for them – they deserve better. It’s just a mistake.”
Did it surprise you that the car slid as much as it did?
“I was definitely surprised. I didn’t expect – obviously that I’d drive into (turn) one that deep. I thought I was going to be fine side-by-side. It just took off on me and I hit the 24 (William Byron) so that’s obviously on me. I hate it for my team. You hate to make a mistake that early in the race. All my fault. I hate it for my team, I hate it for (Ryan) Blaney. I apologize to his guys. Just caught me by surprise and just a stupid mistake. Inexcusable.”