Suarez, Busch capture stage wins in Watkins Glen

STAGE 2: Results

Daniel Suarez held off a hard-charging Martin Truex Jr. to grab his first stage win of the season when he led the field at the conclusion of Stage 2 on Lap 40 of the I LOVE NEW YORK 355 at The Glen on Sunday.

Suarez, driving the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, inherited the lead on Lap 31 after leader Chase Elliott pitted, and managed to fend off Truex’s attempts to pass as the stage wound down.

Truex finished second in his second consecutive stage. Matt Kenseth, Ryan Blaney and Erik Jones rounded out the top five.

Pit stops and pit road problems shuffled the lineup, including landing leader Kyle Busch in 32nd after he was forced to return to pit road following a stop at conclusion of Stage 1 when he felt a tire issue. He rallied to ninth by the time Stage 2 ended.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., in his final race at Watkins Glen before he retires from full-time racing, left the race on Lap 22 with a valve train problem.

STAGE 1: Results

Kyle Busch rode the pole position to his ninth stage win of the season when he led all 20 laps of Stage 1 at the I LOVE NEW YORK 355 at The Glen on Sunday.

Busch’s nine stage victories rank second in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. He earns 10 race points and one playoff point for the stage win.

Martin Truex Jr., who leads the Monster Energy Series with 14 stage wins, finished second in the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota.

Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top five.

Brake problems plagued numerous cars at the start of the race, as contenders Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer were among a handful of cars forced to start from the rear for making modifications post-qualifying. Hamlin worked his way up to 21st in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Trevor Bayne went to pit road to fix a brake issue as the race started, and was eight laps down by the end of Stage 1.