It was throwback weekend for the Monster Energy Cup Series drivers as they had all had a bunch of 1985-1989 inspired paint schemes.
The race started off with Kevin Harvick in the race lead. At lap 16 it was caution time for Trevor Bayne that blows a tire and smacks the wall. With nowhere to go A.J. Allmendinger winds up getting involved in this incident. The caution brought in the leaders.
When the race continued Kyle Larson got to lead laps. At lap 41 it was caution time again as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. smacked the wall. The leaders pit and Kyle Larson kept the race lead. As the first stage continued Kyle continued to lead lap after lap. On the final corner of the first stage Martin Truex Jr. had a perfect corner and was able to barely beat Kyle for the stage one win.
The second stage had Kyle Larson lead a whole bunch more laps. At lap 125 it was caution time as Daniel Suarez smacked the wall. The caution brought in the leaders and Kyle Larson kept the race lead. As the race continued Kyle Larson was back to leading laps as Martin Truex Jr. got hot and took the race lead at lap 148. At lap 155 it was caution time as A.J. Allmendinger spins out. This time as the leaders pit Denny Hamlin won the race off pit road. Denny Hamlin got a chance to lead some laps as Martin Truex Jr. was able to use a slow car at lap 178 to get the lead back again. At lap 195 it was caution time as Gray Gaulding spins out. The yellow time lasted long enough that Martin Truex Jr. won the second stage. The leaders pit and Denny Hamlin wins the race off pit road.
The third stage starts with a short green flag run as David Ragan spins out. As the race continued Denny Hamlin was back leading laps. Around lap 251 it was green flag pit stop time. Kyle Larson picked up a tire rub after his pit stop. After the pit stops were over Martin Truex Jr. had the race lead. At lap 261 we got a debris caution. The caution though brought in the leaders and Denny Hamlin won the race off pit road.
The race continued with Denny Hamlin leading laps. Around lap 300 we got a new round of green flag pit stops. At lap 314 Denny Hamlin was attempting to make pit road and he blew his attempt making it killing his strategy. This put Kevin Harvick into the race lead, but he did not have it for long and Kurt Busch was in the race lead. Then Martin Truex Jr. took the race lead at lap 325. With 32 laps left a new round of green flag pit stops start. With 27 laps left Denny Hamlin was up to third as he was catching him up in a hurry. With under 5 laps left Denny Hamlin was right behind him for the lead. Two laps go by and Martin Truex Je. winds up with tire problems giving Denny the race lead and then the race win.
“I love this race track,” said Denny Hamlin.
“Just two laps too long,” said Martin Truex Jr. He also stated he could have hold him(Denny Hamlin) off it the tire didn’t pop.
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