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LONG POND, Pa. — A Furniture Row Racing team spokesperson confirmed late Saturday afternoon it changed motors in the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota and will therefore start Sunday’s Axalta presents the Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway from the rear of the field.
Driver Martin Truex Jr. — the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship leader — had qualified the car on the outside pole on Friday. Instead of starting on the front row, it will now have to drop to the rear of the 39-car grid, per NASCAR rules.
He’ll join Hendrick Motorsports driver (and friend) Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the back. Earnhardt Jr.’s team changed motors in the No. 88 Chevrolet on Friday afternoon, forcing it to the back.
Truex is a 2015 winner at the 2.5-mile Pocono track. Earnhardt swept the 2014 races at the track.