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Truex wins Stage 1 at Kentucky over Kyle Busch

Martin Truex Jr. led the final 13 laps in the first segment of the 400-miler at Kentucky Speedway to earn his 12th stage win of 2017.

Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota

Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota

Barry Cantrell / NKP / Motorsport Images

“I’m running my own race here,” Truex said. “The Furniture Row Toyota has been doing good.”

Truex held the point with a 0.910-second advantage over Kyle Busch. Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones, Jimmie Johnson and Chase Elliott rounded out the top 10.

Kyle Busch led the field to green in the Quaker State 400. Jamie McMurray got a great jump at the start and went inside of Matt Kenseth for third.

In the first three laps, Kyle Larson, who failed to qualify on Friday, came from the rear of the field to 29th. NASCAR officials reported a tire rub on Ty Dillon’s car on Lap 7. He would pit on Lap 17 after dropping off the lead lap.

Suarez passed Blaney for seventh on Lap 8. Busch led the first 10 laps with Truex in tow. McMurray, Harvick, Kenseth, Suarez, Blaney, Johnson, Logano, Elliott, Hamlin and Keselowski rounded out the top 10.

Johnson passed Blaney on Lap 13 for seventh. Logano and Elliott completed the top 10. Busch held a one-second lead over Truex and had lapped 10 cars. However, by Lap 25, Busch’[s advantage fell to 0.579-seconds on the No. 78.

Just before NASCAR called the competition caution, Truex passed Busch for the lead on Lap 29 but when the yellow flew, the No. 18 car retook the lead.

On the Lap 35 restart, McMurray followed Busch to second. Truex, Kenseth, Harvick, Johnson, Jones, Blaney, Suarez and Elliott completed the top 10. Hamlin came inside from 11th to ninth. By Lap 39, the first 10 cars were single file. Larson restarted 18th but with four tires quickly moved through the field.

By Lap 45, Larson was 11th. He passed Bowyer for 10th three laps later. By Lap 55, Busch held a 0.374-second lead over Truex. Harvick, Kenseth, Johnson, Jones, Larson, Elliott and Hamlin rounded out the top 10. Two laps later, Larson passed Jones for seventh. On Lap 58, he moved by Johnson for sixth. Ten laps later, Truex passed Busch for the lead. Larson moved by Kenseth for fifth-place. By Lap 73, Larson was fourth. Four laps later, he passed teammate McMurray for third.

Harvick passed McMurray on the final lap before the end of the stage to finish fourth. Kyle Busch’s 66 laps were the most led.

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