NASCAR Monster Cup Winner 2017: Martin Truex Tops Final Chase Standings & Grid

Martin Truex Jr., the only Championship 4 driver who had never hoisted the championship trophy before Sunday, won his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title after taking the checkered flag at the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Truex held off second-placed finisher Kyle Busch by 0.681 seconds to put the cherry on top of a successful year that includes eight wins with 2,253 laps led. The other two drivers vying for the title, Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski, finished the race fourth and seventh, respectively.

But at Sunday's race, the best finisher was to be crowned champion, and that was a teary-eyed Truex, who, after 12 full-time seasons, took home the hardware.

Final Playoff Leaderboard

1. Martin Truex Jr. (5,040 points)

2. Kyle Busch (5,035 points)

3. Kevin Harvick (5,033 points)

4. Brad Keselowski (5,030 points)

5. Chase Elliott (2,377 points)

6. Denny Hamlin (2,353 points)

7. Matt Kenseth (2,344 points)

8. Kyle Larson (2,320 points)

9. Ryan Blaney (2,305 points)

10. Jimmie Johnson (2,260 points)

11. Austin Dillon (2,224 points)

12. Jamie McMurray (2,224 points)

13. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2,222 points)

14. Kurt Busch (2,217 points)

15. Kasey Kahne (2,198 points)

16. Ryan Newman (2,196 points)

Playoff standings per NASCAR.com.

No. 78 has six career playoff wins (four in 2017), but this one was for his longtime girlfriend, Sherry Pollex, who has stage III ovarian cancer.

Speaking on the television broadcast, Truex said:

"A lot of it was for her, a lot of it was for me, a lot of it was for this team. We just never gave up all day long. We didn't have the best car. I don't know how we won that thing. [We] never gave up, dug deep. I told my guys we were going to dig deeper than we ever had today.

"[With] 20 to go, I thought I was done. They were all better than on the long run. I just found a way. I found a lane that I could use and I found a lane blocking enough air that they couldn't use it and just made it happen. I can't believe it. I've wanted this since I was a little kid. Just never give up on your dreams no matter what happens."

As excited as Truex was for the win, it was best friend and hunting buddy Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished 25th in his last career race, who was the most excited for Truex, Jr.

"I had a lot of fun out there tonight," Earnhardt said. "The deal I had with [team owner] Rick [Hendrick] was if I finished the race with the car in one piece, I get the car and he gets the helmet. I'm going to take this thing back home. It's got a little scuff here and there. We ran into Truex on the back straightaway because we were high fivin' him with our race car."

It wasn't until Busch's top at Lap 216 that Truex took over the lead and never let up. No. 78 was threatened for the last 10 laps, but he held on, capping off a dominant season that included 26 top-10 finishes, an average finish of 9.4 and 19 stage wins.

Truex's win was slightly overshadowed by former teammate Earnhardt's final NASCAR Cup ride. His 25th-placed finish was forgettable for a career that includes two Daytona 500s and 14 most popular driver awards. No. 88 will do television work with NBC covering NASCAR next year, as well as continue as co-owner of JR Motorsports with sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller and Hendrick.

"I'll never forget being with my crew before the race and right now," Earnhardt said. "I'll never forget shaking all the over-the-wall guys and crewmen's hands on pit road. That meant a lot to me to be able to shake their hands because I have so much respect for everybody in the garage, and the commitment it takes to work in that garage is very difficult."