KANSAS CITY, KS - OCTOBER 22: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 22, 2017 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Winning less than 24 hours after the death of a team member made for an emotional race at Kansas


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Less than 24 hours before Sunday's elimination race at Kansas Speedway, Furniture Row Racing team member Jim Watson passed away from a heart attack. Martin Truex Jr. was racing with a heavy heart, and he went out and won his seventh race of the season in an emotional victory that he dedicated to Watson after the race.

Related: Kyle Larson's championship hopes took a huge hit early in the race

The Furniture Row Racing team was very emotional after Truex won, and you can hear them dedicating the win to Watson as Truex made his way to victory lane.

Related: Former champion struggling to hold it together in the final stage at Kansas

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"Definitely racing with heavy hearts today losing Jim last night," Truex said. "I want to send our condolences to his family and all his friends. He was a heckuva guy and a great worker and put a lot of speed in these Furniture Row Toyotas. Glad we could get him one here today."

It was Truex's second win of the season at Kansas, and he had already qualified for the Round of 8 after winning two weeks before.

The eight drivers who advanced are Truex, Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Blaney and Kevin Harvick.

Kyle Larson was eliminated after suffering engine failure in Stage 1, and the other drivers eliminated were Jamie McMurray, Matt Kenseth and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

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Kurt Busch finished second in the race, followed by Blaney, Elliott and Hamlin.

It looked as if Johnson might not advance after he spun out twice in the final stage, but he was able to bounce back for a solid finish.

The first race in the Round of 8 will be on Sunday, Oct. 29 at Martinsville Speedway at 3 p.m. ET.

 

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