Here are five takeaways from the 2016 STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday.
On Sunday, the 2016 STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway went just about as expected. There was plenty of bumping, drivers spinning out and even some cautions on the day. The madness that is the STP 500 all got started early on Sunday, when Dale Earnhardt Jr. spun out on the track.
What was different was Joey Logano’s day on the track. After winning qualifying on Friday, and looking like the best driver on the track, Logano was quickly passed by several drivers and he kept dropping back and dropping back on the day.
Logano would note early that he just was not getting the get off that he needed to remain competitive and he would fall back. Up front all day were a pair of Joe Gibbs Racing drivers in Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch. Coming into the day, neither driver had won a race yet this season, but both had come close multiple times.
The two sides would battle and battle, but in the end it was Kyle Busch, who finally won at the track that he always has struggled at.
Here are five takeaways from the STP 500.
1. A.J. Allmendinger showed great progress at Martinsville
A.J. Allmendinger is really showing his diversity and growth as a driver on the track. When he first started, he was mainly seen as a specialist on road courses, but his ability to run on ovals has gotten a lot better and as a guy that wants to get in on points or with a road win, Allmendinger had a great day at Martinsville.
He was really excited before the race to get going out on the track and he ran top-5 for the later part of the day and showed that he can handle a tough race like the STP 500.
2. There was plenty of bumping
The great thing about a tiny track like Martinsville is the bumping that takes place. With just laps remaining on the day, all the drivers at the front of the race were bumping into each other and moving each other out of the way with their cars, as they try and moved to the front.
It’s par for the course at Martinsville and nothing new, but it is one of the most exciting elements of the race.
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the first one to go for a spin
Martinsville is known for bumping and spinning, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. got the party started in the real early stages of the race. Earnhardt Jr. would spin out and cut his front rear tire.
Fortunately, he would eventually work his way back to the lead lap and overcome the early spin.
4. Denny Hamlin didn’t have a good day
While some drivers were able to overcome losing control, Denny Hamlin could not. After Hamlin got loose, it looked like he might have a shot at saving his car. Instead, he just didn’t have the room on the track and ended up hitting the wall hard.
To make matters worse, he also had a speeding penalty on the day and did not enjoy the success that his teammates had.
5. Kyle Busch is going to the Chase.
Kyle Busch has probably been the most consistent driver in NASCAR this season. With several high finishes, Busch finally put it all together on Sunday, at a track that he normally struggles on. Busch took command of the lead and really used the inside of the track to hold off everyone else.
With the win, Busch is now going to the Chase and will have a chance to defend his Sprint Cup Championship.
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