Kyle Busch dominates Stage 1 at Watkins Glen
Kyle Busch led all 20 laps in the first segment at Watkins Glen International for his ninth Stage win of 2017.
Photo by: Barry Cantrell / NKP / Motorsport Images
Busch’s advantage was nearly five seconds over second-place Martin Truex Jr. Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Jamie McMurray, Joey Logano, AJ Allmendinger, Kasey Kahne and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rounded out the top 10.
Seven cars started from the rear of the field following unapproved adjustments after qualifying. Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer had brake issues. Paul Menard’s crew found grease coming from the rear of the No. 27 Chevy and changed the rear end gear. Ryan Newman, Gary Klutt, Matt DiBenedetto and Boris Said dropped to the back.
Polesitter Kyle Busch led the first lap followed by Larson, Truex, Elliott, Jones, Keselowski, Suarez, Allmendinger, McMurray, Logano, Johnson, Kenseth, Kahne, Kurt Busch and Ryan Blaney.
Chase Elliott reported brake issues before the start of the race. Trevor Bayne came to the garage with brake issues on the first lap.
Truex passed Larson for second on the third laps. Five laps in, Kyle Busch’s advantage over the No. 78 car was 3.2-seconds followed by Larson, Elliott, Jones, Keselowski and McMurray. Logano passed Suarez for eighth-place. Kenseth and Johnson rounded out the top 10. After eight laps, Elliott passed Larson for third.
Halfway in the stage, Busch extended his lead to 3.6-seconds over Truex. Elliott, Larson, Jones, Keeslowski McMurray, Logano, Suarez and Kenseth rounded out the top 10. Keselowski locked up his brakes in the chicane, allowing McMurray to close in on him.
On Lap 12, Boris Said slid off the course. Busch pulled out to a 3.7-second lead over Truex. Elliott was nine-seconds behind in third.
With five laps remaining in the stage, Truex was 4.4-seconds behind Kyle Busch. Elliott, Larson, Jones, Keselowski, McMurray, Logano, Suarez, Kenseth, Johnson, Blaney, McDowell, Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick completed the top 15.
Hamlin and McDowell pitted on Lap 16. Jones, who was running sixth, blew through bus stop. Johnson, Blaney, Suarez and Kurt Busch pitted on Lap 17.
Bowyer fell off the lead lap. He was the beneficiary after the first segment. Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s engine dropped a cylinder. He was 28th after 20 laps.
Danica Patrick, Chris Buescher, Austin Dillon, Paul Menard and Ryan Newman rounded out the top 15.
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