Race report

NASCAR Cup Sonoma

Jimmie Johnson wins Stage 2 at Sonoma as contenders find trouble

Jimmie Johnson won his first stage win of 2017 at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday.

Lee Spencer

Edited: Jun 25, 2017, 8:52 PM

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Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Johnson held a 4.6-second advantage over Brad Keselowski at the line after leading 11 laps.

“I got a little tight at the line,” Johnson told crew chief Chad Knaus at the end of the run.

Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott and Ryan Newman rounded out the top 10.

Martin Truex Jr. led the field to green on Lap 30 followed by Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Kasey Kahne, Austin Dillon, Cole Whitt, Matt DiBenedetto, Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick.

Working the second lap, Earnhardt was running three-wide with Larson and Danica Patrick in Turn 4. Patrick bounced off of the No. 88 Chevy and spun into Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to ignite the third caution.

The race restarted on Lap 33 with Truex at the point followed by Blaney, Logano, Hamlin, Austin Dillon, Kahne, McMurray, Johnson, Harvick and Whitt. Larson restarted 20th with Earnhardt 21st. As the leaders came through Turn 11, Allmendinger spun in the hairpin. Larson came to pit road one lap later with damage. Allmendinger pitted on Lap 36.

Truex led with 15 laps remaining in the stage. Blaney was 1.684-seconds behind. Hamlin, Johnson, Logano, McMurray, Harvick, Kenseth, Buescher and Austin Dillon rounded out the top 10.

Hamlin and Johnson passed Blaney for third and fourth, respectively on Lap 37. Johnson moved by Hamlin for second just before the caution came on Lap 38 for debris. Truex pitted on Lap 39, but Johnson remained on track along with McMurray, Harvick, Kenseth, Buescher, Keselowski, Menard, Elliott, Suarez, Kurt Busch, Jones, McDowell and Patrick. Bayne received a speeding penalty for blowing through section 4 and started from the rear Boris Said joined him after being penalized for too many men over the wall.

Johnson held the point for the first two laps and had a 2.4-second lead when Harvick passed McMurray for second. Kenseth moved to third on the next lap followed by Keselowski. With five laps to determine the stage, Johnson extended his lead to 2.5-seconds over Harvick. Kenseth, Keselowski, McMurray, Menard, Kurt Busch, Elliott, Buescher and Hamlin rounded out the top 10.

“We got a green flag for once, which was cool,” Johnson said. “I just feel lucky to have a good rhythm since Friday.”

Suarez, who spun one lap earlier, pitted on Lap 46 along with Allmendinger. With two laps to go in the stage, Keselowski passed Kenseth for second. McMurray, Menard, Jones, McDowell, Kurt Busch, Bayne, Patrick and Bowyer pitted. Bowyer was busted for speeding in Section 5. Truex and Harvick also came in for service. Truex had issues with his right front tire and dropped to 32nd.

Bowyer, who ran 20th, through the back of the field, pitted before the end of the segment Thirty-seven cars remained on the lead lap. Stenhouse was the only driver retired from the event.

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