The six-time NASCAR Cup champion drove away over the final few laps to easily win the AAA Texas 500.
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Keslowski dominated the entirety of the race, leading a total of 312 of the 334 laps. However, Keslowski had to settle for second place.
Kyle Busch, Harvick, and Truex Jr. now hold those three provisional spots, and just need to hold on to them for one more race. “I think that shows a lot about what our race auto is going to be like in race trim and just how consistent it was throughout the speed on each round…” As a result, drivers pit much earlier than their anticipated fuel window.
Logano did eventually return to the race several laps later, but it was far too late to be in contention.
No matter. As Johnson swiped the checkered flag from the steely grip of BK, nobody benefited more than Busch.
The final caution flag came out for debris on Lap 311 of the 334-lap race.
Keselowski finished second with Kevin Harvick third.
It wasn’t until Keselowski made minor contact Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 78 Chevrolet that he began to look even remotely vulnerable. The bump did not cause an accident., but it did significantly slow Truex.
Harvick can’t really sit back and coast, either. He led laps when Keselowski pitted under green a second time on lap 298, but on lap 300, Keselowski retook the top spot. Johnson is out of the Chase, but looking forward to the final races…
In the drivers’ championship, Chris Buescher has a 24-point lead on Chase Elliott, a 30-point lead on Ty Dillon and a 31-point lead on Regan Smith.
To access the free online NASCAR video of today’s race from Texas, plus a wide variety of other sports events, both live and replay, simply go to the NBCSN web site and download the free NBC Live Extra app to your device.
Johnson led only six laps to get his fifth win of the season, his first in 20 starts and one within Dale Earnhardt for the seventh-most in NASCAR history. Now, seven drivers will be fighting for three spots next week at Phoenix, as it will be the last chance to earn a spot in the championship round at Homestead.
Jeff Gordon, who finished ninth, is the only driver who is safe going into Phoenix after his win last week at Martinsville.
Kevin Harvick will clinch with a finish of second or better; third and at least one lap led; or fourth and most laps led. But in the Chase, he has an average finish of 8.9.
“Let’s be honest. We did it to ourselves”, Knaus said of failing to meet expectations.
With 45 cars entered, the two drivers failing to make it onto the 43-car grid for Sunday’s 334-lap, 501-mile race were Joey Gase (Go FAS Racing) and Reed Sorenson (RAB Racing). With his disappointing finish last week at Martinsville, NASCAR’s wins leader will have to pull another victory next week at Phoenix to advance to the Chase finale at Homestead.
“We don’t need to win, but we would love to win”.
Before Sunday’s race, NASCAR inspectors discovered irregularities with the splitters on three of the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas-those of Chase drivers Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and non-Chaser Denny Hamlin.
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“At this point, I’m feeling fine, but I can definitely feel it coming on”, Jones said after the Cup race Sunday.
