Brad Keselowski won the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 68th Annual STP 500

Credit: 348488(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, takes the checkered flag during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 2, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia.

Starting from 4th place Car 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Ford won the 68th Annual STP 500, his 23rd win in 275 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races. This is his 2nd win & 5th Top 10 finish in 2017, he is also the only repeat winner of 2017. This is his 1st win & 9th Top 10 finish in 15 races at Martinsville Speedway. 2nd Place Car 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Toyota, started from 10th place
posted his 13th Top 10 finish in 24 races at Martinsville Speedway. It is his 3rd Top 10 finish in 2017. 3rd Place Car 24 Chase Elliott SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, started from 2nd place posted his 1st Top 10 finish in 4 races at Martinsville Speedway.

Credit: 348490(Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, poses in Victory lane with his wife, Paige, and daughter, Scarlett, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 2, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia.

4th Place Car 22 Joey Logano Duralast GT Ford, started from 5th place followed by 5th place Car 3 Austin Dillon Okuma Chevrolet, started from 20th place. 6th Place Car 47 AJ Allmendinger Kroger ClickList Chevrolet, started from 30th place followed by 7th place Car 14 Clint Bowyer Haas Automation Ford, started from 8th place. 8th Place Car 31 Ryan Newman Chevrolet Chevrolet, started from
11th place followed by 9th place Car 20 Matt Kenseth Tide Pods Toyota, started from 25th place. Lastly in the Top 10 was Car 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Fastenal Ford, in the 10th place, started from 24th place. Erik Jones (12th) was the highest finishing rookie. Kyle Larson leads the point standings by 4 points overChase Elliott.

Credit: 348484(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, leads Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 2, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia.

The race had 14 Cautions for 95 Laps: 1st Caution on lap 71 for Car 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Fastenal Ford and Car 27 Paul Menard Duracell/Menards Chevrolet Crash in Turn 3. 2nd Caution on lap 108 for Car 1 Jamie McMurray Cessna Chevrolet Crash in Turn 1. 3rd Caution on lap 124 for Car 21 Ryan Blaney Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford and Car 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Axalta Chevrolet Crash in Turn 2. 4th Caution on lap 132 for Stage 1 Conclusion. 5th Caution on lap 262 for Stage 2 Conclusion. 6th Caution on lap 280 for Debris in Turn 2. 7th Caution on lap 290 for Car 3 Austin Dillon Okuma Chevrolet, Car 5 Kasey Kahne Great Clips Chevrolet, Car 19 Daniel Suarez ARRIS Toyota, Car 41 Kurt Busch Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, Car 47 AJ Allmendinger Kroger ClickList Chevrolet and Car 77 Erik Jones # 5-hour ENERGY Extra Strength Toyota Crash on the frontstretch. 8th Caution on lap 298 for Car 41 Kurt Busch Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford Crash in Turn 3. 9th Caution on lap 310 for Car 23 Gray Gaulding SunFrog.com Toyota Spin in Turn 2. 10th Caution on lap 335 for Car 15 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet Spin in Turn 3. 11th Caution on lap 392 for Car 33 Jeffrey Earnhardt Little Joes Autos/Curtis Key Plumbing Chevrolet Crash in Turn 2. 12th Caution on lap 408 for Car 32 Matt DiBenedetto Keen Parts Ford Crash in Turn 3. 13th Caution on lap 419 for Car 5 Kasey Kahne Great Clips Chevrolet, Car 10 Danica Patrick TaxAct Ford, Car 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota, Car 13 Ty Dillon # GEICO Chevrolet, Car 43 Aric Almirola STP Ford, Car 47 AJ Allmendinger Kroger ClickList Chevrolet and Car 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Axalta Chevrolet Crash in Turn 3. 14th Caution on lap 432 for Car 14 Clint Bowyer Haas Automation Ford, Car 20 Matt Kenseth Tide Pods Toyota and Car 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota Crash in Turn 4.

Credit: 348486(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, leads Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, and Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 2, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia.

The race had 18 Lead Changes among 7 drivers: Lap Leaders: K. Larson 1-23; B. Keselowski 24-71; J. Logano 72; M. Truex Jr. 73-88; D. Hamlin 89-108; Kyle Busch 109; M. Truex Jr. 110-135; Kyle Busch 136-144; C. Elliott 145-151; Kyle Busch 152 -259; C. Elliott 260-272; Kyle Busch 273-336; D. Hamlin 337-340; Kyle Busch 341-405; B. Keselowski 406-415; Kyle Busch 416-428; B. Keselowski 429-
443; Kyle Busch 444-457; B. Keselowski 458-500. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Kyle Busch 7 times for 274 laps; B. Keselowski 4 times for 116 laps; M. Truex Jr. 2 times for 42 laps; D. Hamlin 2 times for 24 laps; K. Larson 1 time for 23 laps; C. Elliott 2 times for 20 laps; J. Logano 1 time for 1 lap.

Credit: 348482(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, and Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, lead the field to green during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 2, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia.

Stage:
Stage #1 Top Ten: 78,11,18,2,24,42,21,48,3,14
Stage #2 Top Ten: 24,18,2,48,21,88,20,77,6,5

Credit: 348485(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, leads Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, and Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Duralast GT Ford, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 2, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia.

Brad Keselowski won the race with a Margin of Victory: 1.806 Seconds. Brad Keselowski said “This is awesome. We’ve ran so good here with the Miller Lite Ford, but something always happens and we haven’t been able to bring it home. Martinsville is just one of those champions’ tracks. The guys that run well everywhere run well here, and it’s really just an honor to win here and get to compete here. This track is 70 years old and a lot of legends have won here. It feels great to be able to join them and bring home a grandfather) clock (trophy). A lot of people don’t know this, but those clocks are built in my hometown in Rochester Hills, Michigan, so it’s cool to get one of them from back home. I have one as a truck owner, but not as a driver, so I’m glad to bring one back as a driver. I don’t like to keep trophies at my house, but this one’s going to my house. That’s how special it is.”
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race Number 6
Unofficial Race Results for the 68Th Annual Stp 500 – Sunday, April 2, 2017
Martinsville Speedway – Martinsville, VA – .526 Mile Paved
Total Race Length – 500 Laps – 263 Miles

Finish Start Truck Driver Team Laps Status
1. 4. Car 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Ford 500 Running
2. 10. Car 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Toyota 500 Running
3. 2. Car 24 Chase Elliott SunEnergy1 Chevrolet 500 Running
4. 5. Car 22 Joey Logano Duralast GT Ford 500 Running
5. 20. Car 3 Austin Dillon Okuma Chevrolet 500 Running
6. 30. Car 47 AJ Allmendinger Kroger ClickList Chevrolet 500 Running
7. 8. Car 14 Clint Bowyer Haas Automation Ford 500 Running
8. 11. Car 31 Ryan Newman Chevrolet Chevrolet 500 Running
9. 25. Car 20 Matt Kenseth Tide Pods Toyota 500 Running
10. 24. Car 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Fastenal Ford 500 Running
11. 33. Car 37 Chris Buescher Bush’s Beans Chevrolet 500 Running
12. 15. Car 77 Erik Jones # 5-hour ENERGY Extra Strength Toyota 500 Running
13. 16. Car 6 Trevor Bayne AdvoCare Ford 500 Running
14. 13. Car 5 Kasey Kahne Great Clips Chevrolet 500 Running
15. 17. Car 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Chevrolet 500 Running
16. 3. Car 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota 500 Running
17. 1. Car 42 Kyle Larson Target Chevrolet 500 Running
18. 18. Car 43 Aric Almirola STP Ford 500 Running
19. 22. Car 27 Paul Menard Duracell/Menards Chevrolet 500 Running
20. 9. Car 4 Kevin Harvick Jimmy John’s Ford 500 Running
21. 31. Car 72 Cole Whitt Bad Boy Mowers Chevrolet 499 Running
22. 23. Car 13 Ty Dillon # GEICO Chevrolet 499 Running
23. 29. Car 10 Danica Patrick TaxAct Ford 499 Running
24. 34. Car 38 David Ragan Camping World/Good Sam Ford 498 Running
25. 7. Car 21 Ryan Blaney Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford 498 Running
26. 26. Car 95 Michael McDowell WRL General Contractors Chevrolet 497 Running
27. 27. Car 34 Landon Cassill FR8 Auctions Ford 497 Running
28. 35. Car 83 * Corey LaJoie # RMC Events Toyota 496 Running
29. 37. Car 23 Gray Gaulding # SunFrog.com Toyota 495 Running
30. 12. Car 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota 493 Running
31. 32. Car 15 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet 492 Running
32. 19. Car 19 Daniel Suarez # ARRIS Toyota 489 Running
33. 38. Car 51 * Timmy Hill(i) Go-Parts.com Chevrolet 486 Running
34. 21. Car 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Axalta Chevrolet 418 Accident
35. 28. Car 32 Matt DiBenedetto Keen Parts Ford 401 Accident
36. 36. Car 33 Jeffrey Earnhardt Little Joes Autos/Curtis Key Plumbing Chevrolet 385 Accident
37. 14. Car 41 Kurt Busch Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford 295 Accident
38. 6. Car 1 Jamie McMurray Cessna Chevrolet 105 Accident

Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 44 Mins, 59 Secs. Average Speed: 70.139 MPH. Margin of Victory: 1.806 Seconds.

Race Comments: Prior the start of the race, the following car dropped to the rear of the field for the reason indicated: No. 19 (backup car). Failed to Qualify: N/A.

Caution Flags: 14 for 95 laps. Lead Changes: 18 among 7 drivers. Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 44 Mins, 59 Secs. Average Speed: 70.139 MPH. Margin of Victory: 1.806 Seconds.

American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award: Kyle Busch, #18. Ingersoll Rand Power Move: AJ Allmendinger, #47 4 positions. Mahle Clevite Engine Builder of the Race: Toyota Racing Development (TRD), #18. Mobil 1 Driver of the Race : Kyle Busch, #18. Moog Go the Extra Mile: Kyle Busch, #18. crew chief Adam Stevens, 0.227 seconds. Sherwin-Williams Fastest Lap: Kyle Larson, #42. Sunoco Rookie of the Race: Erik Jones, #77.

(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series

Next Race: Apr. 9, 2017 – Texas Motor Speedway

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