KANSAS CITY, KS - MAY 06: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Toyota Toyota, talks with Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, before practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 6, 2016 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

A NASCAR driver won Sportsperson of the Year in his home state


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Martin Truex Jr. recently won his first career Cup Series championship, and the 37-year-old was honored in his home state of New Jersey.

Truex was named "New Jersey Sportsperson of the Year" by NJ.com after he captured the championship in November at Homestead.

Related: Martin Truex, Jr. took fans battling severe injuries on the ride of their lives

Truex edged out New York Yankees third baseman Todd Frazier and track star Sydney McLaughlin for the honor. NJ.com's Steve Politi wrote that Truex triumphed both on and off the track.

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"Few have accomplished more or represented our state better than Truex," Politi wrote. "What he did inside his No. 78 Toyota was more than enough, winning a career-best eight races and claiming the title with a memorable performance in the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"This was a popular victory. Truex had not only struggled on the race track, but he watched as his longtime girlfriend, Sherry Pollex, bravely battled ovarian cancer while raising money and awareness for the disease."

Truex won eight races en route to his first championship, and he dominated the 2017 season in NASCAR.

 

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