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Truex Jr. Dancing to Championship 4

Martin Truex, Jr. - photo by Brendon D. Miller - Bluegrass Sports Nation

Martin Truex Jr. wins Sunday’s First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway leading 464 laps of 500 laps. Truex Jr. would capture each event Stage in returning dominating form, to secure his spot in the Championship of 4.

Martinsville, Va. – October 27, 2019, Anthony Holbrook

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 6th Playoff race traveled to Martinsville Speedway, October 27th for the First Data 500. The track offer 500 laps of close racing and short fuses on the .526 mile track.

No. 11 Denny Hamlin collected the pole award for the First Data 500 race and led the field to green.

Denny Hamlin secured the top position through midway of the Stage until teammate No. 19 Martin Truex Jr. droves to the front passing a fading Hamlin for the Stage 1 win.

First Data 500 – Stage 1
1. Martin Truex Jr.
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Ryan Blaney
4. Clint Bowyer
5. Joey Logano
6. William Byron
7. Aric Almirola
8. Chase Elliott
9. Kyle Bush
10. Daniel Suarez

First Data 500 – Stage 2

  1. Martin Truex Jr.
  2. Kyle Larson
  3. Ryan Blaney
  4. Joey Logano
  5. Aric Almirola
  6. William Byron
  7. Kyle Bush
  8. Denny Hamlin
  9. Erik Jones

10. Brad Keselowski

First Data 500 – Final Stage Results
A series of late caution restarts would be the only test for Truex Jr. as he overtook No. 24 William Byron on the final restart, pacing the field to victory.

  1. #19 Martin Truex Jr.
  2. #24 William Byron
  3. #2 Brad Keselowski
  4. #11 Denny Hamlin
  5. #12 Ryan Blaney
  6. #1 Kurt Busch
  7. #4 Kevin Harvick
  8. #22 Joey Logano
  9. #42 Kyle Larson
  10. #6 Ryan Newman
  11. #38 David Ragan
  12. #37 Chris Buescher
  13. #43 Bubba Wallace
  14. #18 Kyle Busch
  15. #17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
  16. #95 Matt DiBenedetto
  17. #8 Daniel Hemric
  18. #32 Corey LaJoie
  19. #47 Ryan Preece
  20. #20 Erik Jones
  21. #21 Paul Menard
  22. #3 Austin Dillon
  23. #34 Michael McDowell
  24. #13 Ty Dillon
  25. #36 Matt Crafton
  26. #00 Landon Cassill
  27. #51 BJ McLeod
  28. #53 JJ Yeley
  29. #15 Ross Chastain
  30. #88 Alex Bowman
  31. #41 Daniel Suarez
  32. #52 Garrett Smithley
  33. #27 Reed Sorenson
  34. #77 Timmy Hill
  35. #14 Clint Bowyer
  36. #9 Chase Elliott
  37. #10 Aric Almirola
  38. #48 Jimmie Johnson

After Sunday’s First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin were involved in a post-race altercation.   Logano confronted Hamlin in relation from an on-track altercation earlier in the race.  Both seemed and appeared to be in a civil conversation, until emotions erupted when Logano started to pushed Hamlin.  Crew members joined in the conflict which lead NASCAR official’s involvement for mayhem separation.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Champion Martin Truex Jr. will be competing in the Championship 4, for the fourth time in his career and the third straight year.

Martin Truex Jr.’s –71st Annual First Data 500 Trophy, checked off his 26th victory in 510 Monster Energy Cup Series races

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Standings
After Race 33: Martinsville

  1. Martin Truex Jr.    42
  2. Denny Hamlin       37
  3. Kyle Bush             36
  4. Joey Logano         30
  5. Kevin Harvick        28
  6. Ryan Blaney            9
  7. Kyle Larson            11
  8. Chase Elliott           24
  9. Brad Keselowski     24
  10.  William Byron            1

Time of Race:
3 Hrs, 29 Mins, 9 Secs.

Average Speed:
75.448 MPH

Margin of Victory:
0.373 Seconds

Caution Flags:
11 for 69 laps; Laps: 29-34 (Debris on the front stretch [32]); 132-139 (Stage 1 Conclusion [42]); 179-184 (#13 spin on the front stretch [6]); 253-257 (Debris Turn 1 [17]); 262-268 (Stage 2 Conclusion [88]); 347-352 (Debris in Turn 2 [88]); 363-372 (#10, #18, #47 and #48 incident on the front stretch [37]); 378-382 (#41, #88 incident on the front stretch [32]); 450-455 (#14 spin Turn 3 [47]); 460-465 (#22 spin Turn 1 [38]); 473-476 (#8, #34 incident Turn 4 [None]).

Lead Changes:
3 among 3 drivers; D. Hamlin (P) 0; D. Hamlin (P) 1-30; M. Truex Jr (P) 31-253; K. Larson (P) 254-259; M. Truex Jr (P) 260-500.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2019 Playoff Schedule locates to Fort Worth, Texas Sunday Nov. 3rd  for the AAA Texas 500 hosted by Texas Motor Speedway 3:00 p.m. ET    NBCSN

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