RELATED: Stage 2 results | Playoffs standings
Martin Truex Jr.looked to be on his way to his 20th stage win of the season when a
wreck on Lap 149 of Sunday's ISM Connect 300 involving Kurt Busch, Austin Dillon, Kevin Harvick, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Danica Patrick and Denny Hamlin caught up the leader's car, which then became entangled with Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 Chevrolet.
The dominant No. 78 Furniture Row Toyota led 109 of the first 150 laps of the race, all but one of Stage 2. But Kyle Busch's No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota also has been fast all day and took the lead after missing the wreck "by an inch," the driver reported. Busch won Stage 2 at New Hampshire, his 13th stage victory of the season.
Truex was scored finishing Stage 2 in sixth place. The No. 78 team was able to repair the damage and return for the final stage of the race.
| Finish |
Driver |
Team |
Race points |
| 1. |
Kyle Busch |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
10 |
| 2. |
Matt Kenseth |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
9 |
| 3. |
Brad Keselowski |
Team Penske |
8 |
| 4. |
Erik Jones |
Furniture Row Racing |
7 |
| 5. |
Kyle Larson |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
6 |
| 6. |
Martin Truex Jr. |
Furniture Row Racing |
5 |
| 7. |
Jimmie Johnson |
Hendrick Motorsports |
4 |
| 8. |
Denny Hamlin |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
3 |
| 9. |
Ryan Blaney |
Wood Brothers Racing |
2 |
| 10. |
Jamie McMurray |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
1 |
Martin Truex Jr. wins 19th stage of the season at New Hampshire
MORE: Stage 1 results
Martin Truex Jr. worked his way around pole-sitter Kyle Busch just past the midway point of Stage 1 and led the rest of the way for the Stage 1 win in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Truex, the Regular Season Champion and winner of 19 stages this season, earned another playoff point for the stage win. Busch led the first 39 laps in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, but the No. 78 Toyota earned the valuable playoff point after leading the final 36 laps of the stage.
Truex Jr. entered the NASCAR Playoffs as the No. 1 seed and guaranteed he will advance to the Round of 12 with a win in the postseason opener at Chicago.
Kyle Larson, who entered the New Hampshire race second in the playoffs standings, finished Stage 1 in second place, as well. Busch came home third in Stage 1.
| Finish |
Driver |
Team |
Race points |
| 1. |
Martin Truex Jr. |
Furniture Row Racing |
10 |
| 2. |
Kyle Larson |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
9 |
| 3. |
Kyle Busch |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
8 |
| 4. |
Erik Jones |
Furniture Row Racing |
7 |
| 5. |
Ryan Blaney |
Wood Brothers Racing |
6 |
| 6. |
Matt Kenseth |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
5 |
| 7. |
Brad Keselowski |
Team Penske |
4 |
| 8. |
Jimmie Johnson |
Hendrick Motorsports |
3 |
| 9. |
Denny Hamlin |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
2 |
| 10. |
Kevin Harvick |
Stewart-Haas Racing |
1 |