Truex Jr. takes Stage 2 at Richmond after Kyle Busch wins Stage 1
Staff Report
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Stage 2 results
Martin Truex Jr. racked up his 18th stage win of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season on Saturday night at Richmond Raceway. That added another playoff point for the driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota, who now has 53 playoff points heading into next weekend's postseason opener at Chicagoland.
Matt Kenseth, the pole-sitter for Saturday's regular-season finale, finished second, followed by Truex's teammate Erik Jones in the No. 77 Toyota. Kenseth entered Saturday night with a playoff cushion, but a new winner like Jones would be among the scenarios that could put Kenseth's spot in jeopardy.
Other drivers searching for a last-minute win to make the playoffs moved up in Stage 2, including Joey Logano, who finished fourth, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in seventh.
Truex led the final 46 laps in Stage 2 after overtaking Kyle Busch, the Stage 1 winner, on Lap 154.
Finish
Driver
Team
Race points
1.
Martin Truex Jr.
Furniture Row Racing
10
2.
Matt Kenseth
Joe Gibbs Racing
9
3.
Erik Jones
Furniture Row Racing
8
4.
Joey Logano
Team Penske
7
5.
Brad Keselowski
Team Penske
6
6.
Kyle Larson
Chip Ganassi Racing
5
7.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Hendrick Motorsports
4
8.
Kurt Busch
Stewart-Haas Racing
3
9.
Ryan Newman
Richard Childress Racing
2
10.
Kyle Busch
Joe Gibbs Racing
1
Stage 1 results
Kyle Busch held off Kyle Larson to win Stage 1 in the Federated Auto Parts 400 on Saturday night at Richmond Raceway.
For Busch, it was his 11th stage victory of the 2017 season and added one playoff point for a total of 21 playoff points entering the postseason opener next weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.
Busch scooted past Brad Keselowski on a restart just before the end of Stage 1. Keselowski was one of three cars that stayed off pit road when a caution came out for smoke on Lap 86.
The smoke came from Matt Kenseth's No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota as the pole-sitter who led the first 89 laps couldn't get the stage win.