Quaker State 400

This weekend’s Monster Energy Cup Series race was held at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky. We saw clean air play a big part in Saturday night’s event, as Martin Truex Jr. claimed his third win of the season. Stages one and two consisted of 80 laps, and the final stage consisted of 107 laps, making for a 267 lap race.

On Lap 1, Kyle Busch got a great jump to retain the lead ahead of the dominating Martin Truex Jr. Eight laps in, Ty Dillon’s car started smoking due to tire rub, but no caution would be thrown and it would not affect the race. The first caution, which would be the competition caution, was displayed on Lap 30, and both Kyle Busch and Truex Jr. pitted. They would hang onto their first and second positions off pit road after a two tire pit stop, followed by Jamie McMurray in 3rd.

The race resumed on Lap 36 and Kyle Busch once again got a good restart and hung onto the lead for 33 more laps until Truex Jr. took over on Lap 69, handing him the stage win, followed by Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson. It’s important to note that Larson was forced to start at the back of the grid in 40th position when he missed qualifying after failing tech, which shows just how fast his car was flying. The usual stage-ending pit stops would occur, and Truex Jr. would win the race off of pit road followed by Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick. Larson and Denny Hamlin were also penalized on this stop for speeding on pit road.

Stage two started on Lap 88 and we saw an incredible battle for the lead between Kyle Busch and Truex Jr, but Busch would prevail and be able to nab the lead. No sooner did Busch claim the lead when a caution came out for Brad Keselowski, who got loose, taking out Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer in the process. This wreck would end Keselowski and Johnson’s night.

The race resumed on Lap 92 and Kyle Busch once again held onto the lead with Truex Jr. trailing closely behind. Two laps later, another caution flag was displayed when Trevor Bayne and Kasey Kahne made contact, ending Kahne’s night early once again. Bayne’s crew was able to fix his car well enough to run a few more laps until he lost grip and spun out on Lap 113, ending his night as well.

After this restart on Lap 117, Kyle Busch went to the lead again until Truex Jr reclaimed it on Lap 134. The sixth caution flag of the night came out on Lap 137 for the No. 23 of Joey Gase when he hit the wall. The leaders did not pit during this stop, but one notable name, Ryan Blaney, did, and received a pit road speeding penalty. The green flag flew again on Lap 142 and it was Truex Jr. to the lead. He would hang on to win yet another stage followed by Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth. On this round of pit stops, Hamlin, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Daniel Suarez would be your first three off after two tire pit stops. Joey Logano and Blaney stayed out during this caution and first and second position would be handed over to them.

The race resumed on Lap 167, and Martin Truex Jr. would reclaim the lead from Joey Logano on Lap 171. Twelve laps later, Kyle Busch reported that his car wouldn’t turn at all, but it didn’t seem to affect him much, as he settled into the eighth position. We cycled through a round of green flag pit stops and Dale Jr. would take the lead with 39 to go, but Truex Jr. would steal that lead from him a lap later.

We saw another caution flag come out not much later for Kurt Busch, when his engine started smoking. Truex Jr. would stay out on this round of pit stops, and things would start to get dicey as we went into NASCAR Overtime, making for a two lap shootout to the finish. Truex Jr. would once again retain the lead as we saw a three car pileup in the final lap that claimed Austin Dillon, Daniel Suarez, and Matt Kenseth. The race finished under yellow and Martin Truex Jr. was the winner of the Quaker State 400. This was his 3rd race win and 13th stage win of the season.

Next weekend, the MENCS heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH. Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch have always been strong contenders here, so keep your eye on them next week, especially since Joe Gibbs Racing is winless so far this season.

(Photo Credit: sbnation.com)