22 year old NASCAR Cup Rookie Cole Custer secures his first career win Sunday at Kentucky Speedway in a four-wide final lap finale.
SPARTA – July 12, 2020 – Anthony Holbrook
NASCAR Cup Series traveled to the Bluegrass State Sunday July 12th for the Quaker State 400 hosted by the Kentucky Speedway. Covid-19 restrictions continue to umbrella the abbreviated race weekend and participant’s involved. Additionally, Spectators were not allowed to view the event for safety conditions and concerns.
Quaker State 400 – Stage 1 Recap:
Gibbs Racing Driver No. 18 – Kyle Busch, who started on the pole from a random draw, led the first nine laps of the Quaker State 400 until Stuart-Haas Driver No. 10 – Aric Almirola passed Kyle Bush to grab the top spot on Lap 10.
Aric Almirola guarded the point building a 4 second lead with 5 laps remaining cruising to his second stage victory of the 2020 season.
No. 9 Hendrick Driver – Chase Elliott crossed the checkers second, No. 22 – Joey Logano third, Woods Brother’s Driver No. 21 – Matt DiBenedetto finished fourth and Ryan Blaney’s Penske No. 12 Ford rounded out the top-five after battling a shifter issue.
Quaker State 400 – Stage 1 Results:
- Aric Almirola
- Chase Elliott
- Joey Logano
- Matt DiBenedetto
- Ryan Blaney
- Kevin Harvick
- Alex Bowman
- Kurt Busch
- Clint Bowyer
- Martin Truex Jr.
Quaker State 400 – Stage 2 Results:
On Lap 155, No. 42 – Matt Kenseth spun through Turns 3 and 4 to bring out a caution with just one car remaining – No. 2 Brad Keselowski – to make a green-flag stop.
Keselowski led the way followed by Blaney and Logano when the race returned to green on Lap 160.
Keselowski held off a charging Blaney in a one-lap dash following a caution to claim the Stage 2 win. Stuart-Haas Driver No. 41 – Cole Custer was third, Logano fourth and No. 19 Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top-five.
Quaker State 400 – Stage 2 Results:
- Brad Keselowski
- Ryan Blaney
- Cole Custer
- Joey Logano
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Alex Bowman
- Austin Dillon
- Jimmie Johnson
- Matt DiBenedetto
10) Eric Jones
Quaker State 400 400 – Final recap:
For the final restart, Cole Custer’s Ford mustang was positioned on the outside of the third row when the field took the green flag. The 22-year-old Cup Series rookie sliced his way to the outside to resume the point passing Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney and No. 4 -Kevin Harvick on the last lap coming out of turn two to get to the lead heading to the white flag.
Cup Champion Martin Truex Jr. fell short of real-estate battling on the last lap as Custer crossed the finish line first.
Cole Custer would lead only 5 of the 267 laps in the Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart. The final lap was most rewarding.
Quaker State 400 400 – Final results:
- Cole Custer
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Matt DiBenedetto
- Kevin Harvick
- Kurt Bush
- Ryan Blaney
- Christopher Bell
- Aric Almirola
- Brad Keselowski
10) Tyler Reddick
11.) William Byron
12.) Denny Hamlin
13.) Austin Dillon
14.) Clint Bowyer
15.) Joey Logano
16.) Ty Dillon
17.) Ryan Newman
18.) Jimmie Johnson
19.) Alex Bowman
20,) Chris Buescher
21.) Kyle Busch
22.) Erik Jones
23.) Chase Elliott
24.) Michael McDowell
25.) Matt Kenseth
26.) Daniel Suarez
27.) Bubba Wallace
28.) Corey LaJoie
29.) Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
30.) JJ Yeley
31.) Brennan Poole
32.) Josh Bilicki
33.) Garrett Smithley
34.) Joey Gase
35.) Quin Houff
36.) John Hunter Nemechek
37.) Timmy Hill
38.) Ryan Preece
| The NASCAR Cup Series’ next event is the (NON-POINTS) NASCAR All-Star Race hosted by Bristol Motor Speedway – Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM). The NASCAR Cup All-Star Open qualifier Race is scheduled Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM) Bristol Motor Speedway The next (POINTS) race for the NASCAR Cup Series scheduled next Sunday (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM) at Texas Motor Speedway for the O’Riley Auto 500. |