The drama between Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott garnered most of the attention after Sunday’s First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway, and justifiably so. When Hamlin dumped Elliott in Turn 3 with three laps left in regulation, the entire complexion of the race – and of Elliott’s season – change in an instant. Overshadowed, but not overlooked, was the ongoing war between Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff contenders Kevin Harvick and Ryan Blaney, who swapped sheet metal throughout the event. During a 121-lap green-flag run that consumed the second stage of the race, Harvick pounded on the bumper of Blaney’s #21 Wood Brothers Ford, as Blaney used every tactic he could muster to keep Harvick’s #4 Stewart-Haas Racing Fusion behind him. Both drivers were involved in a multicar wreck after race winner Kyle Busch took the checkered flag, with Harvick coming home fifth and Blaney sliding across the finish line in eighth. After exiting their cars, the drivers had a pointed conversation on pit road.
Keselowski comes close in must-win’ race Brad Keselowski came close to calling his own shot. Coming to Martinsville Speedway, the driver of the #2 Team Penske Ford termed Sunday’s First Data 500 a must-win’ event, uncertain of his organization’s ability to keep up with the Toyotas at downforce tracks like Texas. And with eight laps left in regulation distance at the .526-mile short track, Keselowski was cruising toward a victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 opener and a ticket to race for his second series title at Homestead-Miami Speedway. But teammate Joey Logano had developed a severe tire rub after contact from race winner Kyle Busch’s Toyota, and on Lap 492, the tire went flat and Logano went spinning, causing the 10th caution of the race. Chase Elliott muscled his way past Keselowski on the subsequent restart on Lap 497, and after Hamlin dropped-kicked Elliott into the Turn 3 wall to force overtime, Keselowski came home fourth.
Johnson struggles to 12th-place finish at Martinsville The track that used to be Jimmie Johnson’s personal playground recently has become an enigma to the seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion. Johnson wheel-hopped and spun in Turn 3 during Sunday’s qualifying session at Martinsville Speedway. Precautionary changes to the rear end of the #48 Chevrolet sent the nine-time Martinsville winner to the rear for the start of the First Data 500. Handling was an issue throughout the race. Ultimately, Johnson salvaged a 12th-place finish after losing a lap and getting it back as the highest scored lapped car under ninth of 11 cautions.(NASCAR Wire Service)[Read More Here]
