Blaney, Hamlin divide stage wins at Martinsville Speedway
Staff Report
Sarah Crabill | Getty Images
Denny Hamlin secured a Stage 1 victory in Monday's STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
Hamlin, a five-time Martinsville winner, first put his Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota in the top spot on the 27th lap. From there, Hamlin led all but one of the remaining laps in the 130-lap opening stage.
RELATED: Stage 1 results | At-track photos
Hamlin's first stage win of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season provides him with a playoff point that carries over into the postseason.
Defending race winner Brad Keselowski finished a close second in the stage, just ahead of Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney. Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer completed the top five.
Busch (23 laps in front) and pole-starter Martin Truex Jr. (4) were the only other lap leaders.
Finish
Driver
Team
Race points
1
Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing
10
2
Brad Keselowski
Team Penske
9
3
Ryan Blaney
Team Penske
8
4
Kyle Busch
Joe Gibbs Racing
7
5
Clint Bowyer
Stewart-Haas Racing
6
6
Kevin Harvick
Stewart-Haas Racing
5
7
AJ Allmendinger
JTG Daugherty Racing
4
8
Kurt Busch
Stewart-Haas Racing
3
9
Joey Logano
Team Penske
2
10
Jimmie Johnson
Hendrick Motorsports
1
Stage 2
Ryan Blaney stormed to victory in the second stage of Monday's STP 500, leading his first career laps at Martinsville Speedway.
Blaney's Team Penske No. 12 Ford jumped to the lead by leaving pit road first during the exchange of stops in the first-stage intermission. From there, he led all but three laps to the completion of the stage at Lap 260.
RELATED: Stage 2 results
Clint Bowyer finished second in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 Ford. Kyle Busch, a winner at the .526-mile track last fall, took third place, and defending race winner Brad Keselowski ended the stage in fourth. Stage 1 winner Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five in the second stage.
A total of 500 laps make up the scheduled distance. The race was postponed a day because of significant overnight snow Saturday night into Sunday morning.