The Monster Energy Cup Series drivers got a rare one hour early start to the race today at Charlotte as bad weather down south was moving up to the north. Denny Hamlin had the pole the 500 mile event.
The race started off with Denny Hamlin leading lap after lap and went all the way with the lead until the competition caution at lap 35. The leaders pit and Kyle Larson wins the race off pit road as he fully missed his pit stall.
As the race restarted Chase Elliott took the race lead as it was not long at all and Ryan Newman wrecks out of the race.
“Had a good car,” said Ryan Newman.
When the race continued Kevin Harvick took the race lead and continued to lead laps as he took the stage one win. The leaders pit and Jamie McMurray wins the race off pit road.
The second stage saw Kyle Busch take over the race and lead a hunch of laps. Around lap 116 it was caution time as Michael McDowell spins out. The race continued with Kevin Harvick leading more laps and at lap 137 it was caution time as Kyle Busch smacked the wall and blows a tire. As the green flag racing continued it was Kevin Harvick leading more laps as he also won the second stage. The leaders pit and Kevin Harvick keeps the race lead.
The third stage started off with one long green flag run where Kevin Harvick was leading lap after lap as Green flag pit stops started around lap 225. Martin Truex Jr. was able to get the lead of the race after all the pit stops ended. At lap 266 it was finally caution time as Danica Patrick and David Ragan wrecked together. The leaders pit and Kyle Larson wins the race off pit road.
We get a short green flag run this time and at lap 279 Kyle Busch wrecks his car more to bring out a new caution. The leaders pit and Martin Truex Jr. wins the race off pit road as Kyle Larson wound up with a slow pit stop. We get a good green flag run with Martin Truex Jr. leading laps as Kyle Larson moved his way up to 4th place. With 9 laps left Kyle Busch winds up smacking the wall again and brings out a new caution. The caution brought in the leaders with Martin Truex Jr. keeping the race lead and Ricky Stenhouse Jr picked up a speeding penalty on pit road.
The race restarts and it was as real short green flag run and Kurt Busch spins out and damaging the Kyle Larson car. We get one final race restart and Martin Truex Jr. got another solid restart and then another win this season.
“Pit crew was flawless,” said Martin Truex Jr. after the race.
Kevin Harvick stated that he lost some grip as the race went on.
“Damage made me a little nervous,” said Kyle Larson.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
