The big race at Talladega brings in even more importance this time as 4 more drivers will be eliminated at the end of the race with no chance to win the championship. Drivers were also looking to avoid the big one.
Martin Truex Jr. started the race off leading one lap as Brad Keselwoski took over the race lead on lap 2 as it was three wide behind him while three Joe Gibbs drivers were in the back. At lap 26 it was Chase Elliott getting to lead laps. He only led it until lap 32 as Brad was back in the race lead. At 37 it was green flag pit stop time.
Joey Logano wound up leaving pit road with the car jack and somehow made it one full lap around without causing a caution. A.J. Allmendinger and Denny Hamlin wound up with speeding penalty on pit road.
Brad Keselowski was back in the race lead as the pit stops were over, but at lap 42 it was the first caution of the day as Martin Truex Jr. and his car was smoking big time.
“Tough way to go out,” said Martin Truex Jr. on his car.
The race continued with Brad Keselowski leading laps. Greg Biffle though took over the race lead at 64 as the whole field was single line. At lap 75 Brad took it back to two wide racing. By lap 80 he was able to get back to the race lead. At the end of the lap it was green flag pit stop time. Michael Annett to get to lead a few laps before Brad Keselowski was back leading laps. At lap 112 it was Denny Hamlin getting the race lead as Brad dropped back to around eighth. Three more laps go by and Jeffery Earnhardt, Greg Biffle and Casey Mears wreck by the pit road entrance to bring out the caution.
As the race continued Denny Hamlin was leading more laps. Brad keselowski though was able to get the race lead back on lap 123. By lap 132 it was back to single wide racing. At lap 143 Ryan Blaney took the race as Brad moved back to second place to get rid of some debris on his car. On the next lap Brad and his car smoked big time to bring out the caution.
Some cars pit more than once under this time period to keep the car full of fuel.
When the race restarted Joey Logano was leading laps, but this time it was only a short green flag run as we got a debris caution came out at lap 149. As the race continued Joey Logano was leading laps as it was single wide up front. With 20 laps left Landon Cassill looses it, but was able to save it without bringing out the caution. With six laps left Kasey Kahne gets loose and spins out to bring out the caution.
With three laps left the race restarts and at the end of the lap Alex Bowman gets loose and into the grass and bring out the next caution. We get one overtime period with Joey Logano in first with Brian Scott in second. Joey was able to get the race lead and was able to blog Brian from getting the race lead to win the race.
“Fun race,” said Joey Logano. “What a great day.”
“It was nerve-racking,” said Brian Scott on the final laps of the race. The second place finish for him is his best Sprint Cup finish ever.
“Tried to get every position I could,” said Denny Hamlin.
“We tried to make it happen,” said Chase Elliott.
“We did everything we could,” said Austin Dillion. He wound up eliminated as Denny Hamlin had the better finish in this race.
After the race was over Brad Keselowski. Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, and Austin Dillion werte eliminated from winning the championship.
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