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Nemechek takes Iowa victory with three-wide pass for the win

John Hunter Nemechek was not going to be denied.

Race winner John Hunter Nemechek, SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet celebrates

Race winner John Hunter Nemechek, SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet celebrates

Russell LaBounty / NKP / Motorsport Images

John Hunter Nemechek, SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet takes the win
Johnny Sauter, GMS Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Brad Keselowski Racing Ford, John Hunter Nemechek, SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet
Johnny Sauter, GMS Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Brad Keselowski Racing Ford, John Hunter Nemechek, SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet
Johnny Sauter, GMS Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Brad Keselowski Racing Ford, John Hunter Nemechek, SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet
Race winner John Hunter Nemechek, SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet celebrates
Harrison Burton, Toyota, Jordan Anderson, Rick Ware Motorsports Chevrolet
Cody Coughlin, ThorSport Racing Toyota
Jesse Little, Toyota

The NEMCO Motorsports driver took the checkered flag for the second time in as many races and he did it spectacular fashion.

The race began with Noah Gragson leading the way from pole position before being overtaken by teammate Christopher Bell after 20 laps. He then held on to win the stage and collect crucial bonus points.

The running order at Lap 60 (end of Stage 1) was as follows: Bell, Gragson, Johnny Sauter, Chase Briscoe and Ben Rhodes.

"Yeah this thing is a dream machine right now," said Bell. "It's pretty fun to drive, we'll see if it stays that way when the sun goes down."

During the second stage of the race, Rhodes was forced to make an unscheduled pit stop for a vibration. Fortunately for him, a spin by Truck newcomer Mike Senica forced a yellow just past the halfway point and Rhodes was able to get back on the lead lap. During the caution period, Bell stayed out while most of the trucks behind him dove to pit road for fresh rubber. 

On the ensuing restart, he could do little to hold off Sauter and Briscoe as they charged by the No. 4 Toyota Tundra. The stage would ultimately end under caution due to a multi-truck incident on the backstretch. Kaz Grala made contact with Cody Coughlin, sending his truck up into Rhodes and then back down the track, collecting Austin Wayne Self.

Behind Sauter at the end of Stage 2 was Briscoe, Bell, John Huner Nemechek, Bell and Gragson. Bell then pitted, falling back to 12th in the running order. "I got my work cut out for me," he told the Fox Sports 1 crew before expressing confidence in his truck to get the job done. 

A red flag was displayed due to fluid on the track, lasting for 12 minutes and 26 seconds. When the race finally resumed, it was Sauter firmly in control over Briscoe.

With 33 laps to go, Ryan Truex brought his No. 16 truck to pit road with terminal engine issues, ending a strong run inside the top ten.

Sauter later said Briscoe "took him to school" when the Brad Keselowski Racing driver suddenly ran him down on the outside, quickly snatching the lead away and checking out. But it was short-lived. With 15 laps to go, Matt Crafton crashed heavily into the outside wall, igniting a shootout that changed everything.

Sauter stayed out, but Briscoe and everyone behind them dove to pit road. On the restart with seven laps remaining, it was Sauter leading Briscoe and Gragson, who had taken two tires. Nemechek was the top driver with four fresh Goodyears, restarting fourth.

Things got very hectic with trucks going three and four-wide as Briscoe attacked Sauter for the race lead. But those four tires paid off big time for Nemechek, who powered by both of them on the inside and never looked back. It was the rising star's fifth career victory and his second of the 2017 season.

"I cant say enough, thank you to all my guys they work as many hours as I do ... this is awesome," he said in Victory Lane.

Sauter held on to finish second and leaves Iowa with a 42 point advantage over Bell in the championship standings.

Brandon Jones finished third, followed by Grant Enfinger, Bell, Gragson, Briscoe, Austin Cindric, Jesse Little and Justin Haley, who spun on the last lap after contact with Harrison Burton.

Cla#DriverManufacturerLapsTimeLaps Led
1 8 united_states John Hunter Nemechek  Chevrolet 200   6
2 21 united_states Johnny Sauter  Chevrolet 200 1.652 72
3 99 united_states Brandon Jones  Chevrolet 200 1.805  
4 98 united_states Grant Enfinger  Toyota 200 3.494  
5 4 united_states Christopher Bell  Toyota 200 4.319 99
6 18 united_states Noah Gragson  Toyota 200 4.358 16
7 29 united_states Chase Briscoe  Ford 200 5.195 7
8 19 united_states Austin Cindric  Ford 200 5.398  
9 97 united_states Jesse Little  Toyota 200 5.493  
10 24 united_states J.J. Haley  Chevrolet 200 14.620  
11 51 united_states Harrison Burton  Toyota 200 3.182  
12 13 united_states Cody Coughlin  Toyota 199 1 lap  
13 02 united_states Harrison Rhodes  Chevrolet 196 4 laps  
14 27 united_states Ben Rhodes  Toyota 195 5 laps  
15 1 united_states Jordan Anderson  Chevrolet 193 6 laps  
16 66 united_states Trey Hutchens  Chevrolet 192 8 laps  
17 49 united_states Wendell Chavous  Chevrolet 191 9 laps  
18 50 united_states Josh Reaume  Chevrolet 185 15 laps  
19 88 united_states Matt Crafton  Toyota 184 16 laps  
20 16 united_states Ryan Truex  Toyota 166 34 laps  
21 83 united_states Mike Senica  Chevrolet 143 57 laps  
22 6 united_states Norm Benning  Chevrolet 126 74 laps  
23 45 united_states Austin Wayne Self  Toyota 124 76 laps  
24 33 united_states Kaz Grala  Chevrolet 116 84 laps  
25 10 united_states Bryce Napier  Chevrolet 98 102 laps  
26 63 united_states Kyle Donahue  Chevrolet 68 132 laps  
27 14 united_states Ted Minor  Chevrolet 26 174 laps  
28 36 united_states Kevin Donahue  Chevrolet 24 176 laps  
29 38 united_states T.J. Bell  Chevrolet 15 185 laps  
30 20 united_states Tyler Young  Chevrolet 12 188 laps  
31 87 united_states Joe Nemechek  Chevrolet 3 197 laps  
32 57 united_states J.J. Yeley  Chevrolet 3 197 laps  

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