HAMPTON, Ga. — Martin Truex Jr. won the final event of the International Race of Champions series with champion Mark Martin looming in his rearview mirror Saturday.
Martin, the longtime NASCAR star needed only to start the 65-lap race at Atlanta Motor Speedway to wrap up a record fifth IROC title. It looked for a while as if he might be on the way to a third victory in four races in this year's all-star series.
The field was inverted for the start, with points leader Martin and Roush Racing teammate and runner-up Kurt Busch, the reigning Nextel Cup champion, starting from the rear of the 12-man lineup. But Martin charged to the front, taking the lead on the 10th lap.
Truex, the reigning champion and current points leader in NASCAR's Busch Series, ran into problems early, bouncing off the wall and damaging the right side of his IROC car, one of 12 identically prepared vehicles in the race.
But caution laps don't count in IROC and Truex was able to pit for fresh tires during the yellow. That helped him race back into contention and eventually into the lead after dueling with Martin for several laps.
There was a mandatory caution flag and tire stop for everyone after lap 40. When the racing resumed, Truex pulled away, running off to a four car-length victory over Martin.
"Growing up, I dreamed about doing this someday," Truex said. "To win one of these races is real special. And I've got to congratulate Mark on his championship." He knows how to drive these things and I was real nervous with him behind me on the last restart."
Martin, whose latest IROC title broke him out of a tie with the late Dale Earnhardt, was all smiles after the race.
"My performance in IROC, and I don't know why, has just been magical," Martin said. "It was a fun race.
"Martin just gave me a driving lesson out there today. Today, nobody could run with him. I was trying to get close enough there at the end to give the fans some excitement, but then the caution came out."
On the final lap on the 1.54-mile D-shaped oval, road racing star Scott Pruett tapped reigning Champ Car World Series champion Sebastien Bourdais, who in turn turned into NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton and sent him sliding. Both Hamilton and Pruett slammed into the wall as the leaders crossed the finish line.
Cup star Matt Kenseth was third, followed by two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, sprint car driver Danny Lasoski and Bourdais, who won the Texas IROC race this year.
Truex took second in the season standings, trailing Martin by 16 points. Kenseth was third, followed by 2004 Indy 500 champion Buddy Rice and Bourdais.