Alex Bowman lands two stage wins, Logano bags Stage 3 in Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte
Staff Report
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Joey Logano rose to a Stage 3 win Sunday as the Coca-Cola 600 entered its latter stages at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Logano took command of the top spot on Lap 278 and led the final 23 laps of the third stage in the NASCAR Cup Series' longest race. The outcome marked his first stage win of the season.
RELATED: Stage 3 results | Charlotte race week schedule
Alex Bowman's No. 88 Chevrolet held close for second place in the stage after having swept the first two stages. He was just ahead of Ryan Blaney, Logano's Team Penske teammate in the No. 12 Ford. Jimmie Johnson finished fourth with Martin Truex Jr. fifth.
Matt Kenseth brought out the stage's only caution flag after he spun backward into the Turn 2 retaining wall with his Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet on Lap 275. That shuffled the running order as teams opted for varying pit strategies. Logano's crew opted to keep him on the race track, placing him in the lead for the stage's final restart.
The full distance is scheduled for 400 laps, split into four stages. Every other race on the Cup Series schedule is divided into three stages.
Finish
Driver
Team
Points
1
Joey Logano
Team Penske
10
2
Alex Bowman
Hendrick Motorsports
9
3
Ryan Blaney
Team Penske
8
4
Jimmie Johnson
Hendrick Motorsports
7
5
Martin Truex Jr.
Joe Gibbs Racing
6
6
Kyle Busch
Joe Gibbs Racing
5
7
Erik Jones
Joe Gibbs Racing
4
8
Brad Keselowski
Team Penske
3
9
Austin Dillon
Richard Childress Racing
2
10
William Byron
Hendrick Motorsports
1
Bowman cruises in Stage 2
Alex Bowman notched a Stage 2 victory Sunday night as the Coca-Cola 600 reached the halfway point at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Bowman padded his laps led for the evening to 140 of a possible 200 laps in the 400-lap race. The performance sealed a sweep of the first two stages of the 600-miler and secured his third stage win this season in the NASCAR Cup Series.
RELATED: Stage 2 results
Martin Truex Jr. came home second at the end of Stage 2. Kyle Busch claimed third place with William Byron fourth and Chase Elliott fifth.
Bowman's No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet gave up the lead only during an exchange of green-flag pit stops after the stage's midpoint. Four other drivers popped up to lead laps for first time Sunday during that cycle: Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Preece, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and John Hunter Nemechek.
Finish
Driver
Team
Points
1
Alex Bowman
Hendrick Motorsports
10
2
Martin Truex Jr.
Joe Gibbs Racing
9
3
Kyle Busch
Joe Gibbs Racing
8
4
William Byron
Hendrick Motorsports
7
5
Chase Elliott
Hendrick Motorsports
6
6
Erik Jones
Joe Gibbs Racing
5
7
Joey Logano
Team Penske
4
8
Austin Dillon
Richard Childress Racing
3
9
Ryan Blaney
Team Penske
2
10
Jimmie Johnson
Hendrick Motorsports
1
Bowman rises to take Stage 1
Alex Bowman landed the opening stage win in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of season for the NASCAR Cup Series.
Bowman led 46 of the 100 laps in the opening stage at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The result marked his second stage win of the season, banking Bowman another playoff point for use in the postseason.
RELATED: Stage 1 results
Martin Truex Jr. took second place in the first stage with Chase Elliott, rookie Tyler Reddick and Joey Logano completing the top five.
The race was stopped by rain showers after 50 laps were complete. After track-drying efforts were effective, the red flag was lifted after a 68-minute delay.
Pole-starter Kurt Busch led the opening 54 laps until Bowman took the lead during the first exchange of pit stops after the rain delay. Bowman's No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports crew opted for a two-tire change, which placed him out front. Busch wound up 10th at the conclusion of Stage 1, netting the last stage point.
Clint Bowyer's No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford crashed heavily in Turns 1 and 2 with four laps remaining, forcing Stage 1 to end under caution. He exited his car under his own power.
Denny Hamlin lost several laps after the drop of the green flag after ballast fell from his No. 11 Toyota in pace laps. He headed to pit road before the start for repairs and joined the race in last place. He finished Stage 1 still last in the 40-car field, eight laps off the pace.