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Stage 2 saw the top-two finishers of Stage 1 switch places with Martin Truex Jr. putting down a blistering pace for the stage win with Kyle Larson finishing second and Chase Elliott getting by Clint Bowyer late in the stage for third. Truex led all but five laps in the stage as he earned the lead on pit road on Lap 64 for a segment that stayed green throughout its run. Truex swept all three stages of the NASCAR Goes West opener at Las Vegas to take the checkered flag.
Larson and Truex traded the lead back and forth during Stage 1 of the Auto Club 400 and combined to be out front for 55 of the 60-lap segment (Larson led 43 laps, Truex led 12 laps). It ultimately was the polesitter Larson who took the top spot. This was the Chip Ganassi Racing driver’s first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series stage win, and he earns a playoff bonus point. The driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet entered this weekend’s action at Auto Club Speedway as the series points leader.
The top 10 finishers in both Stage 1 and Stage 2 receive race points. The race winner will receive 40 points and five playoff points at the conclusion of the Final Stage.
MORE: 2017 season stage points