Kenseth leads the entirety of Stage 1 at Richmond

The No. 20 Circle K car led all 100 laps in the segment for his first stage win.

“It’s been a great start for us,” Kenseth said. “The key for downforce is you want to have more than everyone else and you want to slide less than everyone else. It’s been fun to drive.”

Kyle Larson bested Martin Truex Jr. at the line for second followed by Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, Clint Bowyer and Joey Logano — who started from the rear of the field after changing transmissions on Saturday.

Erik Jones triggered the first caution on Sunday’s race. He cut a left-front tire and plowed into Turn 3.

“I got ran into the wall on Lap 1,” Jones said. “It’s unfortunate. We’re loading up and going home.”

Twelve drivers pitted during the caution: Dale Earnhardt, Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Paul Menard, Danica Patrick, Aric Almirola, Austin Dillon, Landon Cassill, Austin Dillon and Chris Buescher. Larson was blocked in his pit stall by Cole Whitt and restarted 30th but quickly cut his way through the field.

By Lap 37, Keselowski was second, Earnhardt 10th, Larson was 13th and Logano 20th.

Halfway through Stage 1, Kenseth retained a two-second lead over Truex and had lapped his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Daniel Suarez. Kyle Busch was third followed by Keselowski, Harvick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Thirty-two cars remained on the lead lap.

Stenhouse triggered the second caution on Lap 65 when he lost control of his car while racing Denny Hamlin on the backstretch. The leaders pitted under caution with Kenseth retaining the lead followed by Truex, Keselowski, Harvick, Newman, Larson, Ty Dillon and Joey Logano. Earnhardt and Kyle Busch were busted for speeding.

Larson came from sixth, moved up to third by Lap 75. On the last lap of the segment, Larson powered past Truex for second.

Between segments, Hamlin’s dash went black and the team had to reset his electrical system prior to Stage 2.