For the second straight week, a driver dominated the opening stage of a NASCAR Cup Series race only to fall off slightly in Stage 2.
Like Bristol, like Richmond? The two tracks don’t race the same way, but Stage 1 at the Food City 500 and the Toyota Owners 400 both played out the same way.
Last Monday it was Kyle Larson dominating from the pole and leading every lap in Stage 1, and this week it was Matt Kenseth pulling off the same trick.
With Circle K on the hood for the first time, Kenseth led all the way and took 10 points, with Larson edging Martin Truex Jr. at the line for second.
Kenseth also began Stage 2 in front, but this time someone was able to run him down. That someone was Brad Keselowski, who was never truly challenged as he remained in front to take the green and white checkered flag for the first time in 2017.
Stage 2 was entirely caution-free, so the only trouble drivers really got into was speeding on or off pit road. An early caution flew during Stage 1 as Erik Jones cut a tire down and went hard into the outside the wall.
The big story in the final stage will be whether or not Kenseth or one of his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates can get back into the lead. Denny Hamlin came out of the pit stops between stages in first, giving Joe Gibbs Racing two chances to try to end a rare winless streak to start the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
Toyota Owners 400 Stage 1 results
- Matt Kenseth, 10 points, 1 playoff point
- Kyle Larson, 9 points
- Martin Truex Jr., 8 points
- Kevin Harvick, 7 points
- Denny Hamlin, 6 points
- Brad Keselowski, 5 points
- Ryan Newman, 4 points
- Jamie McMurray, 3 points
- Clint Bowyer, 2 points
- Joey Logano, 1 point
Toyota Owners 400 Stage 2 results
- Brad Keselowski, 10 points, 1 playoff point
- Matt Kenseth, 9 points
- Kevin Harvick, 8 points
- Denny Hamlin, 7 points
- Kyle Larson, 6 points
- Ryan Newman, 5 points
- Jamie McMurray, 4 points
- Clint Bowyer, 3 points
- Ty Dillon, 2 points
- Joey Logano, 1 point