Martin Truex Jr.'s girlfriend on win: 'We have been through so much' With cancer in remission, Sherry Pollex on hand to help celebrate

Mike Hembree | Special for USA TODAY Sports

LONG POND, Pa. -- After a couple of celebratory fist pumps, Pocono race winner Martin Truex Jr. jumped down from his car and, in the middle of the fire and color of victory lane, waited for a hug.

He wasn't looking for his crew chief or his team owner or a sponsor rep. No, this was a moment for Truex and Sherry Pollex, his long-time girlfriend and fellow traveler of many miles of rough road over the past year. They embraced near the winning race car, and Truex lifted her off the ground and kissed her.

Almost all victory lanes are emotional. This one will be one for the ages.

"Oh, my God," Pollex said a minute after hugging Truex and watching a wild celebration erupt around him. "We have been through so much."

She dropped her head and a few tears came.

Pollex had radical surgery last August after being diagnosed with Stage III ovarian cancer (Stage IV is the most advanced). Her ovaries, spleen, appendix, fallopian tubes and part of her stomach were removed. After eight days in the hospital, she began weekly chemotherapy treatments.

She lost her hair and, already slim before the diagnosis, shed 25 pounds.

Meanwhile, Truex, in his first season driving for Furniture Row Racing, was struggling on the track as the team tried to adjust to new cars and new rules. It wasn't a good season.

Pollex's diagnosis turned 2014 into the year from hell.

Now, things are better. Much better. Her cancer is in remission. Despite monthly chemo treatments (down from three a month), she has been strong enough to be at the track every week. And Truex has been on a roll, stacking up top 10s and floating around the top of the standings.

But – no wins.

That made Sunday a day far beyond the norm.

"I'm so excited for Martin and his team and everything they've been through and everything we've been through personally," Pollex said. "It's just amazing. These guys deserve it. They've had the best car four weeks in a row, and they brought it home.

"Last year was so tough with my diagnosis and the car not running well. This year, they started off with a bang and everything has gone his way and the cars have been so good. He's been so close. I didn't want to get too excited the last two laps because we've been so close so many times this year and finished second. It's awesome."

Pollex went to Twitter and fired out the tweet she had been holding for a Truex victory: "Chemo Monday, victory lane Sunday."

"Even last year I told him all the time he was going to win," she said. "He knew that. He doesn't need me for that."

Pollex said she "functions well" on the chemo. "I live a normal life on it," she said. "It's life. I don't do too bad on it. It is what it is. It's the best chance I have at long-term survival, so I'm going to do it. I get it once a month instead of three times now. My body just tolerates it well. But I'm tired."

Sunday, "tired" didn't matter.

PHOTOS: Martin Truex Jr. and Sherry Pollex