Kyle Busch wins Toyota Owners 400: Full results from Richmond Raceway
By Nick Tylwalk
Even though there was some craziness late, the 18 prevailed again, just as it had the last two races.
The Toyota Owners 400 was a tale of two races. The first 200-plus laps were caution-free except for the end of the two stages, and Ford drivers dominated. The last 50 laps turned hectic, and it was a couple of Toyotas and a Chevy driver looking to get his first Cup Series win that wound up in the front of the pack.
In the end, it was a familiar face who found himself in Victory Lane. Kyle Busch, who started 32nd after trouble in qualifying, won his third straight Cup Series race for the second time in his career, holding off Chase Elliott in overtime and Denny Hamlin in overtime.
The first two stages, both won by defending race winner Joey Logano, passed by quickly with zero cautions for on-track incidents. The final stage looked like it might be headed the same way, but multiple single and two-car wrecks forced the caution flag to fly late.
One of those cautions cost pole-sitter Martin Truex Jr. the opportunity for his first short track win. His No. 78 Toyota entered the pits first and came out ninth, the result of trouble on the left side of the car. He ended up finishing 14th.
Stewart-Haas Racing Fords ran up front most of the day, and three of them finished in the top 11. But they never really factored into the finish, which will undoubtedly disappoint them a little.
In his Victory Lane interview, Kyle Busch noted how difficult it would be to go for four in a row at famously unpredictable Talladega. Still, if anyone can pull it off, the 18 team would be the bunch to do it, especially as hot as they are right now.
Next: Toyota Owners 400 highlights, stage results
2018 Toyota Owners 400 finishing order from Richmond Raceway
- Kyle Busch
- Chase Elliott
- Denny Hamlin
- Joey Logano (Stage 1 and 2 winner)
- Kevin Harvick
- Jimmie Johnson
- Kyle Larson
- Brad Keselowski
- Clint Bowyer
- Daniel Suarez
- Kurt Busch
- William Byron
- Erik Jones
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Austin Dillon
- Matt DiBenedetto
- Aric Almirola
- Alex Bowman
- Jamie McMurray
- Ty Dillon
- Trevor Bayne
- Ryan Blaney
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- Paul Menard
- Bubba Wallace
- Chris Buescher
- AJ Allmendinger
- Ross Chastain
- Kasey Kahne
- Cole Whitt
- Michael McDowell
- Daniel Hemric
- David Ragan
- Landon Cassill
- Gray Gaulding
- Harrison Rhodes
- Ryan Newman
- Reed Sorensen