Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

NASCAR Martinsville: Keselowski takes second win of 2017 from Busch

Penske's Brad Keselowski recovered from an early penalty to claim victory in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville

Keselowski beat Joe Gibbs Racing's Kyle Busch to the win, the pair having battled for the lead over the course of the final 100 laps of the 500-lap distance.

But Keselowski broke free in the final 20 laps, as Busch began to complain about his handling on his final set of tyres, to secure the victory.

The win was Keselowski's fifth-straight top-five finish, his longest such streak, while the result means he is the first NASCAR driver to win two Cup races this season.

Keselowski's victory also came after he had been put to the back of the field by a penalty for speeding on pit road during the first caution after 69 laps, although he recovered to be back among the leading cars before half distance.

Chase Elliot finished third having been in contention with the leaders for a lot of the distance.

Keselowski's Penske team-mate Joey Logano recovered to finish a strong fourth after an early pit road penalty, while he also sustained a flat left-rear tyre at half-distance that meant he lost two laps after pitting under green flag conditions.

Austin Dillon completed the top five, followed by AJ Allmendinger.

Poleman and points leader Kyle Larson led the first 23 laps but then fell back rapidly, complaining about poor drive off the corners.

Adjustments at his stops improved his handling but he still suffered with tyre longevity and battery problems and finished 17th.

Nine-time Martinsville winner Jimmie Johnson's frustrating season continued, as he finished 15th having made an extra pit stop in the final 100 laps.

Busch's late issues handling issues were not the only problems the 2015 champion faced.

Having led all of the second stage - after taking the lead under a full course yellow when those who gambled on not pitting finally did so - Busch was denied victory when Ricky Stenhouse Jr, keen to stay on the lead lap, pushed him wide - instead allowing Elliot to pip Busch on the line.

Martin Truex Jr won stage one after not pitting under a late yellow in the stage when Denny Hamlin and Busch ahead did so.

RESULT - 500 LAPS:

Pos Driver Team Car Gap
1 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 3h44m59.s
2 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1.806s
3 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2.152s
4 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 4.552s
5 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4.945s
6 A.J. Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 5.882s
7 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 9.621s
8 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 11.144s
9 Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 11.287s
10 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 13.416s
11 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 14.753s
12 Erik Jones Furniture Row Racing Toyota 14.986s
13 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Ford 16.017s
14 Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 16.219s
15 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 16.899s
16 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Toyota 18.005s
17 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 18.128s
18 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 18.297s
19 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 18.581s
20 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 20.551s
21 Cole Whitt TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet 1 Lap
22 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Chevrolet 1 Lap
23 Danica Patrick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 1 Lap
24 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 2 Laps
25 Ryan Blaney Wood Brothers Racing Ford 2 Laps
26 Michael McDowell Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet 3 Laps
27 Landon Cassill Front Row Motorsports Ford 3 Laps
28 Corey LaJoie BK Racing Toyota 4 Laps
29 Gray Gaulding BK Racing Toyota 5 Laps
30 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7 Laps
31 Reed Sorenson Premium Motorsports Chevrolet 8 Laps
32 Daniel Suarez Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 11 Laps
33 Timmy Hill Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 14 Laps
34 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Accident
35 Matt DiBenedetto Go FAS Racing Ford Accident
36 Jeffrey Earnhardt Circle Sport / TMG Chevrolet Accident
37 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Accident
38 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Accident


Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Fontana NASCAR: Kyle Larson wins for Ganassi
Next article NASCAR Texas: Johnson overcomes Logano for victory

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe