2017 Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Results – Martin Truex Jr. is King
By Alex Herbst
Just call him the king of the mile and a half tracks! Martin Truex Jr. won his third race of 2017 in dominant fashion on Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway.
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Kentucky Speedway is the youngest track on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule, but has quickly become a popular track for fans. In 2017, a second consecutive repave created new challenges for drivers and teams, while Martin Truex Jr. tamed them all by driving away to victory in the Quaker State 400.
The race would be settled in overtime for the first time in the history of the speedway after Kurt Busch’s engine blew up with two laps to go. Staying out while the rest of the lead lap cars pitted, Truex Jr. jumped out ahead on the restart and never looked back. His third win of 2017 was also the second time in NASCAR history that a driver swept all three segments of a Cup Series race. The only other time that was done was by Truex Jr. at Las Vegas earlier this year.
Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch dominated the race on Saturday night, each leading over 100 laps and combining to lead all but 10 of the race’s 274 laps. However, the #78 team had the right strategy and the perfect amount of speed to roll to Victory Lane. Kyle Larson came home in 2nd for Chip Ganassi Racing, with Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch rounding out the top 5.
While Truex Jr. tamed the track with a new surface, many others struggled with grip and handling throughout the night. Early in stage two, Brad Keselowski lost control in turn 3, collecting Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer. Then on the ensuing restart, Trevor Bayne got loose in turn 2, while Kasey Kahne slammed the wall. The final multi-car incident came on the final lap involving Matt Kenseth, Daniel Suarez, Austin Dillon and David Ragan.
Here are the full race results from the Quaker State 400 Presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway:
- Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, Furniture Row Racing
- Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing
- Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
- Denny Hamlin, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Kyle Busch, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Erik Jones, Toyota, Furniture Row Racing
- Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing
- Joey Logano, Ford, Team Penske
- Kevin Harvick, Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
- Ryan Blaney, Ford, Wood Brothers Racing
- Darrell Wallace Jr., Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports
- Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
- Clint Bowyer, Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
- Danica Patrick, Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
- Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, JTG-Daugherty Racing
- Matt Kenseth, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Daniel Suarez, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
- A.J. Allmendinger, Chevrolet, JTG-Daugherty Racing
- Paul Menard, Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
- Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
- Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, Leavine Family Racing
- David Ragan, Ford, Front Row Motorsports
- Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, Go Fas Racing
- Landon Cassill, Ford, Front Row Motorsports
- Ryan Sieg, Toyota, BK Racing
- Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, Premium Motorsports
- Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet, TMG-Circle Sport Racing
- Kurt Busch, Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
- Timmy Hill, Chevrolet, MBM Racing
- B.J. McLeod, Chevrolet, Rick Ware Racing
- Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, Germain Racing
- Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, Tri-Star Motorsports
- Gray Gaulding, Toyota, Premium Motorsports
- Joey Gase, Toyota, BK Racing
- Trevor Bayne, Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
- Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
- Brad Keselowski, Ford, Team Penske
- Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
Next: Kyle Busch Wins Xfinity Series Race at Kentucky
Next up for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series – racing from the heart of New England. The top stock car drivers out there descend on the magic mile in Loudon, New Hampshire for a 300-mile race. Catch the Overton’s 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 16th, with live coverage on NBCSN.