The reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion Martin Truex Jr. will get the chance to defend his title thanks to his win at Auto Club Speedway in the Auto Club 400.
The race at the track in Fontana, California began as the past few races have, with Kevin Harvick as the favorite to win. However, on lap 37 of the race Kevin and Kyle Larson got together on the track sending the dominant car for the past three weeks into the wall and sliding down to the infield of the track and ruining Kevin’s shot at winning four races in a row.
From that point forward there were a few cars that looked to have the speed to challenge for the win. Seven cars exchanged the lead 16 times during the race. The car that spent the most time out front was driven by Martin Truex Jr. who led a race high 125 laps in the 200 lap race.
Martin was able to capture the win in both the first and second stages of the race. He put his #78 Toyota out front for the last 32 laps in the race to complete the sweep of all three stages of the race as he captured his first career win at Auto Club Speedway and first win of the 2018 season. That win makes it all but a guarantee that Martin will be in the playoffs with a chance to defend his NASCAR title.
The 2017 winner of this race, Kyle Larson was able to claim a second place finish this year. Kyle Busch crossed the finish line in third place followed by Brad Keselowski in fourth place and Joey Logano in fifth. See the complete race results for the Auto Club 400 here.
The win and sweep of all stages of the race at Auto Club Speedway gave Martin Truex Jr. max points and helped him jump up to the lead in the point standings. Kyle Busch holds steady in second place. Joey Logano moves up a spot to third while Brad Keselowski moves into the top five at number four. Ryan Blaney holds even at number five. Kevin Harvick started the race as the leader in the standings and ended the race falling out of the top five at number eight. See the complete Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series point standings here.
The teams will go “short trackin'” next as they head to Martinsville Speedway for the STP 500 this Sunday, March 25th.
By: Buck Stevens
CLICK PICTURE BELOW TO VIEW GALLERY
2018 Auto Club 400
-
- FONTANA, CA - MARCH 18: Actor Ian Somerhalder poses for a photo by the pace car prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on March 18, 2018 in Fontana, California. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images)
