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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400”

Truex wins 1st race of the Chase

Martin Truex Jr. stormed past race leader Ryan Blaney on the day’s final restart Sunday and drove away to his 3rd victory of the season as the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup opened at Chicagoland Speedway with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400. However, Truex’s #78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota failed inspection after the race. Any penalties will most likely be announced at mid-week. It was the 2nd winning vehicle to fail post-race inspection over the weekend. Kyle Busch won Friday’s Camping World Truck Series race, but his #18 Toyota lost in the inspection line.

As for Sunday’s post-season opener in the Sprint Cup Series, Truex and others pitted for fresh tires on the day’s final caution while Blaney rolled the dice and stayed out to preserve track position. Truex’s crew got him back on the track first. He then easily dispatched Blaney en route to his 6th career win, which automatically qualified Truex for a spot in the next round of the Chase, so long as he does not fall victim to NASCAR’s beefed-up post-season penalty scale that could strip him of the automatic advancement. Truex’s post-race infraction Sunday is reportedly not substantial enough to warrant that type of penalty.

Joey Logano finished 2nd to Truex with rookie Chase Elliott grabbing 3rd place. Blaney held on for 4th with Brad Keselowski completing the top 5. Jimmie Johnson led a race-high 118 laps but was slowed by a speeding penalty on pit road. He finished 12th.

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– story by John Singler
www.mrn.com
Concord, NC

Click for the Chase for the Sprint Cup Drivers’ Grid

 

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