By John Schutt –
NASCAR Monster Energy Series, Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona, Fla., Saturday, July 7.
The Saturday night race started in the early evening with Chase Elliot on pole and Alex Bowan on the out side.
First-time winner, Eric Jones, only led one lap, but it was the important one: The last lap! Jones took the lead from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Martin Truex, Jr., who finished in second place, after the second green, white checker restart. Following in third place was AJ Allmendinger, Kasey Kahne was in fourth place, and Chris Boecher in fifth place.
Kyle Larson, who won the Xfinity race in dramatic fashion Friday night, was an early front runner with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.. Stenhouse, Jr. won the first stage and second stage.
Jimmie Johnson was in the lead with 35 laps to go when Larson and Stenhouse, Jr. spun out together and wrecked their cars and they were out. A caution was issued and Johnson went into the pits along with many others. However, when his car crossed the next pit box line with a fuel refill tank attached, he received a one-lap penalty for the error.
Truex, Jr. moved to the front with Kevin Harvick and Kahne close behind. With 20 laps to go Kahne took a surprising lead. Stenhouse, Jr. got his car repaired from an earlier wreck, but spun out again, and wrecked again with 11 laps to go.
Johnson took back his penalized lap on the restart with Harvick in front.
After the restart a couple of laps later in a major wreck with Johnson, Aric Almirilo, Mike McDowell, and many others set up the first Green White Checker.
A restart and one lap later another major incident again involved Johnson, Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, Jr., Stenhouse, Jr., and so many others that a Red Flag was issued in order to clean up the mess.
After the delay, Truex, Jr. led the second Green, White, checker start. After the white flag Eric Jones took the lead and his first career Cup victory.
Truex, Jr., who finished in second place, never has won a restrictor plate race.
NASCAR Monster Energy Series, Overton’s 400, Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet, Sunday, July 1.
Pole was set by Paul Menard, from Wisconsin. The first stage winner was Almirillo and the second stage was won by Harvick.
In a dramatic finish, Kyle Busch outwit and outhit Larson on the last lap of the race. Larson spun out, but regained composure to finish in second place. Following in third place was Harvick, in fourth place was Truex, Jr., and in fifth was Clint Bowyer.
It was Kyle Busch’s second victory at Chicagoland and his 48th career victory.
