Martin Truex Jr. scored his first Sprint Cup win at Darlington Raceway by winning a NASCAR “Crown Jewel” race, the Bojangles’ Southern 500.
Kevin Harvick started the race on the pole and dominated the second to last NASCAR Sprint Cup regular season race. However, due to mistakes during pit stops he was not able to convert his race high 214 laps as the leader into a win.
During the 367 laps there were eight drivers that exchanged the lead a total of 14 times. The most important lap to lead is the final one and Martin Truex Jr. was able to be the leader of the race as he crossed the finish line under the checkered flag to capture his first Sprint Cup win at Darlington and his second win of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
Kevin was able to battle back from the mistakes in the pits to capture the runner-up position at the finish. Kyle Larson came home with a third place finish at the track “Too Tough To Tame” with Denny Hamlin just behind him in fourth place. Joey Logano rounded out the top five. See the complete race results for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 here.
Following the Darlington race Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski remain first and second in the point standings in that order. Joey Logano jumps up tow spots to third while Carl Edwards slips back a spot to fourth. Denny Hamlin moves up to spots to complete the top five. See the complete NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings here.
With a repeat winner at Darlington, the 2016 Chase Grid retains three spots filled by drivers without a win this season. That means with just one race remaining before the Chase Grid is set, there will be at least two spots filled by point totals. See the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase Grid here.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers’ final chance to make The Chase will come Saturday night, September 10th in the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
By: Buck Stevens
-
- DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Chevrolet, leads the field to the green flag during the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jeff Curry/NASCAR via Getty Images)
-
- during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina.
-
- DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 McDonald’s Chevrolet, races Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
-
- DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Tide PODS Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images)
-
- DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, races during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jeff Curry/NASCAR via Getty Images)
-
- DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: Regan Smith, driver of the #7 Nikko RC Road Rippers Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
-
- DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: Casey Mears, driver of the #13 GEICO Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
-
- DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 McDonald’s Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images)
-
- DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Coca-Cola Chevrolet, races during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
-
- DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: Martin Truex, Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, crosses the finish line during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
-
- DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: Martin Truex, Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, does a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jeff Curry/NASCAR via Getty Images)
-
- DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: Martin Truex, Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Getty Images)
-
- DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: Martin Truex, Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images)
-
- DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: Martin Truex, Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, applies the winners sticker in victory land after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images)
