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Truex passes Allmendinger to win hectic first stage at Sonoma

Martin Truex Jr. won Stage 1 with a 1.133-second advantage over AJ Allmendinger at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday.

Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota

Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota

John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images

Truex led eight laps en route to his 11th stage win of the season.

Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Trevor Bayne, Austin Dillon, Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer rounded out the top 10.

“I was running so hard just trying to hold onto it,” Allmendinger said. “I figured something out in 11 that helped me close the gap a little bit.”

The Team Ganassi duo of Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray led the field to green in Sunday’s Toyota/SaveMart 350.

Daniel Suarez pitted on Lap 2 after flat-spotting his tires. He dropped to 38th. His Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch pitted four laps later after locking up his brakes coming into Turn 11.

“Did we give everything up or what,” asked Busch after falling to 36th in the field.

Larson had extended his lead to 1.3-seconds over McMurray before Truex passed the No. 1 Chevy for second. Larson led the first nine laps before Truex passed him for the lead on Lap 10. Allmendinger moved by Larson for second one lap later. On Lap 16, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was challenging Danica Patrick for sixth coming into the Turn 11 when he locked up his brakes and slid through the hairpin to ignite the first caution. He collected Patrick in the process.

Truex led the leaders onto pit road. Chris Buescher, who was running 12th, stayed on the track to take the lead followed by Keselowski, Paul Menard, Matt Kenseth, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Boris Said, Josh Balicki, Kyle Busch, Suarez and Bayne. AJ Allmendinger, 11th, was the first driver on fresh tires followed by Truex, Harvick, Larson and Newman. Earnhardt was busted for speeding in Section 8 and restarted 35th.

After the race restarted on Lap 17, Allmendinger came from 11th to fourth in the first lap. Buescher remained at the point followed by Keselowski and Menard. Allmendinger was second one lap later, followed by Busch, Keselowski, Truex, Kenseth, Bayne, Larson, McMurray and Menard.

Allmendinger took the lead on Lap 19. With five laps remaining, the No. 47 held a 0.761-second lead over Kyle Busch. Truex, Larson and Keselowski rounded out the top five. Buescher held onto fifth followed by Bayne and Kenseth.

Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Patrick, Earnhardt, Suarez and Buescher pitted on Lap 22. Harvick, Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Harvick, Kurt Busch and McMurray pitted on Lap 23. Michael McDowell and Busch waited too long and were busted for pitting while pit road was closed. The No. 41 Ford’s penalty was rescinded when Busch drove through pit road and did not stop for service. Kyle Busch received a speeding penalty on his stop.

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