Despite the team’s setbacks, Martin Truex Jr. piloted the No. 1 DEI Chevrolet to a fifth place finish at Watkins Glen International on Sunday afternoon.

Sundays top-5 finish was his first since recording a fourth place outing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in June.

"It was great to get another top-five," Truex said. "It's been a while coming."

Earlier in the week Truex signed a contract extension with DEI keeping him in the drivers seat of the No. 1 Chevrolet at least through the 2009 season.

Sunday’s finish knocked the team up one spot in the points standings to 16th, 209 points out of the top-12. With four more races until the chase begins, it is a long shot for the team to come back and grab a seat in the chase.

Crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion is serving a six-race suspension that does not allow him to venture to the tracks.

That did not keep him from building a new car for his driver.

Truex extended his gratitude to his crew chief.

"It was a lot of fun out there today," he said. "I just want to thank all my guys. We had a really good car all day. We charged from 17th where we started early in the race. For a long time we were one of the best cars on the track.

"That last set of tires we got a little bit too loose but had a lot of fun out there today. Just want to thank Bono (crew chief Kevin Manion) back at the shop for building this new car."