NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500”

Jimmie Johnson pulled away from the field on an overtime restart Sunday and was first to the white flag as a four-car accident unfolded along the backstretch – ending the race under caution and leaving Johnson with his 76th career win that ties the late Dale Earnhardt for 7th place all-time. 

Most of the race was caution-free with just one yellow flag in the first 323 laps. With Johnson in the lead less than two laps from completion of the scheduled distance, Ryan Newman’s spin brought out just the 2nd caution of the day that would force overtime. Johnson pushed his #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in front of Kyle Busch coming out of the final restart, and put some distance between himself and the defending series champion before the day’s final caution ended the race. 

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finished second, giving Hendrick Motorsports a sweep of the top two spots. Busch finished 3rd, one position ahead of older brother Kurt – who had started from the pole. Carl Edwards completed the top five.

Kevin Harvick started 6th and led a race-high 131 laps before settling for 6th place. Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin finished 16th in his bid to become the first driver with back-to-back season-opening victories in the Sprint Cup Series since Matt Kenseth in 2009. Chase Elliott was the highest-finishing rookie in the 40-car field, running 8th.

Sunday’s race marked the debut of NASCAR’s 2016 low-downforce rules package. It produced 28 lead changes, identical to last year’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series now heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway next Sunday afternoon.

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