Correction: An earlier version of this story had a different lane for Busch's final restart.
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Here’s a recap of all the results and action from Sunday’s STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway:
WINNER: Kyle Busch won his first race since clinching last season’s Sprint Cup Series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway, sweeping Martinsville to up his grandfather clock trophy count from zero to two. After dominating the race, Busch has now won at every track on the circuit except for Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Pocono Raceway. Busch chose the low line on the final restart with 13 laps to go and sailed past Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Matt Kenseth. He also probably locked up a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup and will have a chance to defend his title.
“It certainly helps when you get to run other divisions, and that’s why I do it — to pay off on Sundays. It doesn’t work every single weekend, but it works more times than it doesn’t,” Busch said while celebrating in victory lane.
“To win here in Martinsville is pretty cool, you know. Finally get to take a clock home. A lot of people said I didn’t deserve one yesterday, and maybe I don’t. But I certainly got one today."
And as for the quick pit stops that allowed him to maintain his lead?
“That was huge, the race off pit road. My guys were flawless today. We made a few adjustments to the car throughout the day, and they kept getting me out and not even losing a spot on pit road. That was the key to the race, being able to restart on the bottom like that.”
AJ Allmendinger edged by Matt Kenseth on the restart and finished second. Kyle Larson was third. It was Allmendinger's second top 10 in a row, after finishing eighth at Auto Club Speedway two weeks ago.
“I’m trying my butt off," Allmendinger said. "I didn’t like myself last year. I didn’t like who I was, I was frustrated. I want to be better for these guys, guys that when they step up, they make me better. I’m trying to be different, but I’m not doing a lot of different stuff. They’re just building me better race cars.”
Larson had his best finish in five career Cup starts here.
“It was really fun this whole weekend to be competitive on the race track. Normally I’m very, very bad here," Larson said. "To finish top three feels like a win for me. Never would’ve thought that I’d finish top three here, and now I feel like maybe I can see a clock in my future.”
PHOTOS: In the driver's seat with Kyle Busch
DISAPPOINTMENT FOR DENNY: On lap 220, Denny Hamlin had recovered from an earlier speeding penalty and was running in fifth place when he missed his entry into Turn 1. His No. 11 car wheel-hopped and it sent the five-time Martinsville winner crashing into the wall. Hamlin went to the garage due to the damage and finished 39th. “It’s my first time ever doing it here,” Hamlin said. “It’s a little embarrassing.”
TRICKY TURN: Among the other drivers to go for a spin in Turn 1: Michael Annett (twice) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (contact with Regan Smith). Later, with 44 laps to go, Smith had a tire problem and ended up in the wall himself.
EARLY SPIN: Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the first car to find trouble. As he dove into Turn 1 alongside David Ragan on lap 4, Earnhardt made contact with Ragan – who was on the inside – and apparently cut his left rear tire. Earnhardt then spun out and triggered the first caution of the day; he also lost a lap in the pits while making repairs.
GRILLED: Aric Almirola was driving the STP-sponsored car in the STP-sponsored race at a track where even the hot dogs are known as “STP-style.” But his engine got fried during the first third of the race and eventually expired after 206 laps. Almirola said he had a top-15 car and lamented the lost points. “Walking out of the track now, I certainly would have taken a 15th-place finish because this is gonna put us in a pretty big hole,” he said.
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PHOTOS: 2016 Sprint Cup race winners
RESULTS
1. (7) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 500 laps, 45 points.
2. (6) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 500, 39.
3. (17) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 500, 38.
4. (29) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 500, 37.
5. (11) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 500, 36.
6. (25) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 500, 35.
7. (3) Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, 500, 34.
8. (4) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 500, 34.
9. (24) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 500, 32.
10. (5) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 500, 31.
11. (1) Joey Logano, Ford, 500, 31.
12. (14) Greg Biffle, Ford, 500, 29.
13. (23) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 500, 28.
14. (21) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 500, 27.
15. (9) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 500, 27.
16. (28) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 500, 25.
17. (19) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 500, 25.
18. (16) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 500, 23.
19. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 500, 22.
20. (10) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 499, 21.
21. (22) David Ragan, Toyota, 499, 20.
22. (2) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 499, 19.
23. (15) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 499, 18.
24. (27) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 498, 17.
25. (30) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 497, 16.
26. (26) Brian Scott, Ford, 496, 15.
27. (32) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 496, 14.
28. (33) Landon Cassill, Ford, 495, 13.
29. (35) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 495, 12.
30. (31) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, 495, 11.
31. (18) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 494, 10.
32. (13) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 494, 9.
33. (36) Chris Buescher, Ford, 491, 8.
34. (34) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 491, 7.
35. (38) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 490, 6.
36. (37) Joey Gase, Ford, 490, 0.
37. (40) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, 490, 4.
38. (39) Josh Wise, Chevrolet, engine, 326, 3.
39. (8) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, accident, 221, 2.
40. (20) Aric Almirola, Ford, engine, 206, 1.
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Race Statistics
Average Speed of Race Winner: 80.088 mph.
Time of Race: 3 hours, 17 minutes, 2 seconds.
Margin of Victory: 0.663 seconds.
Caution Flags: 8 for 51 laps.
Lead Changes: 11 among 5 drivers.
Lap Leaders: J.Logano 1-21; P.Menard 22-31; Ky.Busch 32-100; K.Harvick 101-105; Ky.Busch 106-131; M.Kenseth 132-146; Ky.Busch 147-155; K.Harvick 156-222; M.Kenseth 223-240; Ky.Busch 241-314; M.Kenseth 315-326; Ky.Busch 327-500.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Led, Laps Led): Ky.Busch, 5 times for 352 laps; K.Harvick, 2 times for 72 laps; M.Kenseth, 3 times for 45 laps; J.Logano, 1 time for 21 laps; P.Menard, 1 time for 10 laps.
Wins: J.Johnson, 2; Ky.Busch, 1; D.Hamlin, 1; K.Harvick, 1; B.Keselowski, 1.
Top 16 in Points: 1. K.Harvick, 220; 2. J.Johnson, 216; 3. Ky.Busch, 215; 4. C.Edwards, 206; 5. J.Logano, 196; 6. B.Keselowski, 178; 7. A.Dillon, 176; 8. Ku.Busch, 176; 9. D.Hamlin, 172; 10. D.Earnhardt Jr., 172; 11. M.Truex Jr., 150; 12. A.Allmendinger, 147; 13. J.McMurray, 143; 14. M.Kenseth, 140; 15. R.Blaney, 132; 16. C.Elliott, 131.
