Truex Dominates in Kentucky

Originally written for CLNS Media.

Martin Truex Jr. dominated the Quaker State 400 from Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night to pick up his third win of the season.

Truex led a race-high 152 laps and won both stages on his way to victory lane.  Truex was leading when the caution came out with two laps to go, and he said he thought he was going to lose the race when he chose to stay out when the rest of the field pitted.

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“I thought we were dead,” Truex said.  “Fortunately we were able to hold them off…and a good push from [Kyle] Larson helped us a bunch.”

While Truex was leading over a long green-flag run in the final 50 laps, he said he was waiting for the inevitable caution that would make the end interesting.

“I was worried every lap, just waiting for a caution,” Truex said.  “Especially at the end, you’re just counting them down.”

“It felt like we had a shot last year and it got away from us on fuel mileage.  I wanted to win so bad after that, so this is sweet redemption.”

Kyle Larson was not able to get through pre-qualifying inspection, so he had to start last on Saturday.  Larson rebounded to finish second, but he said an ill-timed speeding penalty on pit road may have had an effect on the final result.

“I felt like I had the second-best car today, and it would have been interesting to get a restart with him earlier,” Larson said.  “My speeding penalty there…I’m mad at myself for making that mistake.  I don’t really know if that affected the outcome, but you never know.”

Unofficial results:

1. Martin Truex Jr.

2. Kyle Larson

3. Chase Elliott

4. Denny Hamlin

5. Kyle Busch

6. Erik Jones

7. Jamie McMurray

8. Joey Logano

9. Kevin Harvick

10. Ryan Blaney

11. Darrell Wallace Jr.

12. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

13. Clint Bowyer

14. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

15. Danica Patrick

16. Chris Buescher

17. Matt Kenseth

18. Daniel Suarez

19. Austin Dillon

20. AJ Allmendinger

21. Paul Menard

22. Ryan Newman

23. Michael McDowell

24. David Ragan

25. Matt DiBenedetto

26. Landon Cassill

27. Ryan Sieg

28. Reed Sorenson

29. Jeffrey Earnhardt

30. Kurt Busch

31. Timmy Hill

32. BJ McLeod

33. Ty Dillon

34. Cole Whitt

35. Gray Gaulding

36. Joey Gase

37. Trevor Bayne

38. Kasey Kahne

39. Brad Keselowski

40. Jimmie Johnson

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