Kyle Busch earns Stage 1, Stage 2 wins in Indy

RELATED: Brickyard 400 leaderboard

STAGE 2

Kyle Busch recaptured the lead with 13 laps left in Stage 2 to sweep the first two stage wins of the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Records Brickyard 400 on Sunday.

Busch, the two-time defending race winner, has led a race-high 85 laps (of 100) through the first two stages of the 160-lap race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He now has won seven stages this season, the second-highest tally in the Monster Energy Series.

Busch briefly lost the lead during alternate pit stop strategies, and both Erik Jones (nine laps led) and Ryan Blaney (six laps led) spent time in the front.

Martin Truex Jr. finished second in Stage 2. Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five.

Stage 2 was punctuated by the early exit of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Chevrolet when he damaged his radiator on Lap 75.

Stage 2 results

STAGE 1

Kyle Busch rode the pole position to his sixth stage victory of the season after he led all 50 of the first laps of the 160-lap Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Records Brickyard 400 on Sunday.

Busch, the two-time defending champion of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway race, held a significant lead for most of the opening laps in his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, despite radioing to his team that he felt a vibration around Lap 42.

Martin Truex Jr., the stage-winner leader in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with 14, finished second in the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota. Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano rounded out the top five.

Stage 1 featured a 1 hour, 47 minute red flag due to lightning and rain in Indianapolis.

Stage 1 results