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By Holly Cain
DOVER, Del. -- Drama was not an issue at Dover International Speedway on Sunday afternoon. Veteran Matt Kenseth collected his first victory of the year, holding off young guns Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott while nearly half the field was involved in a chain-reaction accident with less than 50 laps remaining.Big names -- from Tony Stewart to Jimmie Johnson to Carl Edwards -- left the 'Monster Mile' with torn-up race cars and bruised egos. Here's a look at what unfolded on an unseasonably chilly race day afternoon.
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The good ... and the bad
With 10 career wins already at Dover, Jimmie Johnson was considered a heavy favorite. He paced the field for four laps Sunday, raising his Dover laps led total to 3,003, while becoming only the seventh driver in the sport's history to lead more than 3,000 laps at a venue. The history he made was triumphant, but the six-time Cup champ had his gear shifter lock up on a late restart and 18 cars were collected in the aftermath, bringing out a 11-minute, 22-second red flag.
With 10 career wins already at Dover, Jimmie Johnson was considered a heavy favorite. He paced the field for four laps Sunday, raising his Dover laps led total to 3,003, while becoming only the seventh driver in the sport's history to lead more than 3,000 laps at a venue. The history he made was triumphant, but the six-time Cup champ had his gear shifter lock up on a late restart and 18 cars were collected in the aftermath, bringing out a 11-minute, 22-second red flag.
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Movin' on up
Chase Elliott not only finished third Sunday at Dover -- his eighth top-10 of the season -- but he moved up four positions in the points standings in what was the biggest move in either direction of the standings for any driver.
The rookie's top-10 total is the best among all Hendrick Motorsports drivers. He's also tied for the series lead with two pole positions and hasn't finished worse than 12th in the last six races in his No. 24 Chevrolet.
Chase Elliott not only finished third Sunday at Dover -- his eighth top-10 of the season -- but he moved up four positions in the points standings in what was the biggest move in either direction of the standings for any driver.
The rookie's top-10 total is the best among all Hendrick Motorsports drivers. He's also tied for the series lead with two pole positions and hasn't finished worse than 12th in the last six races in his No. 24 Chevrolet.
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'Got to turn around'
Martin Truex Jr. was feeling a little snake-bit coming into Sunday's race at the New Jersey native's designated 'home track.' Twice this season Truex has led the most laps in a race but didn't win, including last week at Kansas.
At Dover, Truex led 47 laps and stayed on the leader's bumper for much of the late race before being collected in an accident with 46 laps remaining. He rallied to finish ninth.
'It's got to turn around. We're too good of a team not to have a victory by now,' Truex said.
Martin Truex Jr. was feeling a little snake-bit coming into Sunday's race at the New Jersey native's designated 'home track.' Twice this season Truex has led the most laps in a race but didn't win, including last week at Kansas.
At Dover, Truex led 47 laps and stayed on the leader's bumper for much of the late race before being collected in an accident with 46 laps remaining. He rallied to finish ninth.
'It's got to turn around. We're too good of a team not to have a victory by now,' Truex said.
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An uphill climb
Tony Stewart's return to competition this season took a wrong turn three-quarters of the way through Sunday's race when his track bar broke and punctured the oil tank. The three-time champ finished 34th (58 laps down) and now sits 67 points outside the top-30 Chase cut-off mark with 14 races remaining to set the Chase field -- and he will certainly need a win based on his points position.
Stewart missed the first eight races of the season recovering from an offseason back injury. He had finished 19th, sixth and 12th in the other three races since his return.
Tony Stewart's return to competition this season took a wrong turn three-quarters of the way through Sunday's race when his track bar broke and punctured the oil tank. The three-time champ finished 34th (58 laps down) and now sits 67 points outside the top-30 Chase cut-off mark with 14 races remaining to set the Chase field -- and he will certainly need a win based on his points position.
Stewart missed the first eight races of the season recovering from an offseason back injury. He had finished 19th, sixth and 12th in the other three races since his return.
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Unhappy ending
Austin Dillon had been enjoying his best start in three years on the Sprint Cup circuit. He came to Dover after a sixth-place showing at Kansas, his sixth of the season -- which is a career high for top 10s already.
But Dillon hit the wall in Turn 3 before the halfway mark and spent a great deal of time in the garage as his crew repaired his No. 3 Chevrolet. He eventually returned to the track and finished a season-worst 33rd, a rare miss for the No. 3 team.
Austin Dillon had been enjoying his best start in three years on the Sprint Cup circuit. He came to Dover after a sixth-place showing at Kansas, his sixth of the season -- which is a career high for top 10s already.
But Dillon hit the wall in Turn 3 before the halfway mark and spent a great deal of time in the garage as his crew repaired his No. 3 Chevrolet. He eventually returned to the track and finished a season-worst 33rd, a rare miss for the No. 3 team.