Monster Energy series drivers were back to Phoenix for the final time this season and for more drivers at the end of the race were going to get eliminated.
The race started off with Ryan Blaney in the race lead as Chase Elliott got hot and took it over around lap 12. Then Denny Hamlin got hot and took over the race lead at lap 28. He led a lot of laps and with under 10 laps Kyle Larson got hot and took over the race lead and won the first stage. The leaders pit and Denny Hamlin wins the race off pit road.
The second stage started off with Denny Hamlin leading lap after lap. Around lap 106 it was unscheduled pit stop time for Kyle Larson. He took the car back out on the track for one more lap and then it went behind the wall and done for the day.
“Crappy way to end the season,” said Kyle Larson.
As the long green flag run continued Denny Hamlin continued to lead lap after lap. With one lap left on the second stage the caution comes out for Jimmie Johnson that blows a tire. This easily gives Denny Hamlin the second stage win. The leaders pit and Denny Hamlin keeps the race lead.
“Come back next year and try real hard,” said Jimmie Johnson.
The third stage started off with another super long green flag run with Denny Hamlin leading a whole ton more laps. At lap 228 Dale Earnhardt Jr. was slow on the track as he wound up with a blown tire. Dale Makes it pit road and do0es not bring out the caution. As Dale was on pit road Trevor Bayne smashes into the wall real hard to bring out the caution. The caution brought in the leaders and Matt Kenseth was able to win the race off pit road with Denny Hamlin and a tire with possibly 4 lug nuts on it.
The race restarts with a short green flag run as a debris caution comes out. Another short green flag run occurs and with 61 laps left the caution comes out for Chris Buescher that smacks the wall. The wrecks somehow was so bad that a fire started on the safer barrier. It was quickly put out, but we still had some red flag time repair the safer barrier.
When the race finally restarted we got a new short green flag run and at lap 260 Cole Whitt smacks the wall for the caution. At lap 264 we get a race restart and then at lap 275 it was all over for Denny Hamlin as he wrecked out and ended his championship run. When the race continued Brad Keselowski gets a poor restart while Chase Elliott gets hot and takes the race lead away from Matt Kenseth. With under 15 laps left Matt got hot again. With 10 laps left Matt was in the race lead.
“Heck of a race with Chase,” said Matt Kenseth who gets his first win in 51 races.
“Our car was really fast,” said Chase Elliott.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
