Martin Truex Jr. rallied from a late-race spin Saturday night to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway. Truex led the final 26 laps — all told, he led 109 — in beating Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Erik Jones in Toyotas. Pole-winner Brad Keselowski in a Ford for Team Penske was fifth. It marked the first time in the history of JGR that all four of its Toyotas finished in the top four spots. The team just as quickly lost that distinction after post-race inspection, however, when Jones’ car failed inspection. That sent him to the back of the field and moved everyone else up one spot. The victory was Truex’s tour-leading sixth this year, his second in 28 starts at Richmond, just his second on a short track and the 25th of his 505-race career. His other victories this year came at Richmond, Dover, Charlotte, Sonoma, and Las Vegas last weekend. The Las Vegas victory moved him automatically into Round 2 of the 10-race, four-round, championship-deciding Cup Series playoffs. “Man, I don’t know what to say, I really don’t,” Truex said. “I’m speechless, just an unbelievable job by all my guys. “Had a heck of a race with Kyle and Denny all night long really, and we just kept plugging away at it, kept plugging away at it, as we always do. We just keep digging and we never quit. “ On a perfect fall night in Virginia’s capital city, Truex easily won the caution-free Stage 1. He led the final 47 laps in beating Busch, Keselowski (who led the first 53), Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Matt DiBenedetto, Chase Elliott, Jones, and Jimmie Johnson. Busch won Stage 2 in a spirited battle with Truex, with Hamlin, Jones, Keselowski, Ryan Newman, Harvick, Elliott, Bowyer, and Johnson completing the top 10. Half the 38-car field was a lap down by halfway and there had been only three lead changes among Keselowski, Truex, and Busch. Truex’s path to victory lane was made tougher, but only slightly, when Ricky Stenhouse inadvertently hit him, turning him around in heavy traffic in Turns three and four late in the race. Leading at the time and virtually unchallenged, Truex pitted under caution with everyone else and restarted third, behind Busch and Hamlin. He quickly got by Hamlin, then caught Busch and made the final pass for the lead. “Luckily I didn’t hit anything,” Truex said. “I just tried to keep it off the fence, tried to get spun around and get going, and we ended up ‑‑ because we were pretty far up front, we got going in a pretty good spot and left pit road in a good position and then good adjustments at the end again by Cole and James and the guys.” Busch (202), Truex (109) and Keselowski (89) were the night’s only lap leaders. The race was slowed five times for 32 laps, two of the cautions were to end Stages 1 and 2. The others were minor contact among Austin Dillon, Alex Bowman, and Paul Menard at lap 113; wall contact that sidelined Reed Sorenson at 244; and Truex’s spin. The victory was Truex’s tour-leading sixth this year, his second in 28 starts at Richmond, just his second on a short track and the 25th of his 505-race career. Race Results – Federated Auto Parts 400 1. (8) Martin Truex Jr. (P), Toyota, 400. 2. (4) Kyle Busch (P), Toyota, 400. 3. (6) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 400. 4. (1) Brad Keselowski (P), Ford, 400. 5. (19) Ryan Newman (P), Ford, 400. 6. (13) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, 400. 7. (2) Kevin Harvick (P), Ford, 400. 8. (5) Clint Bowyer (P), Ford, 400. 9. (14) Daniel Suarez, Ford, 400. 10. (10) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 400. 11. (28) Joey Logano (P), Ford, 400. 12. (37) Bubba Wallace, Chevrolet, 400. 13. (3) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, 399. 14. (12) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 399. 15. (18) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 399. 16. (7) Aric Almirola (P), Ford, 399. 17. (15) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, 399. 18. (9) Kurt Busch (P), Chevrolet, 398. 19. (27) David Ragan, Ford, 398. 20. (26) Matt Tifft #, Ford, 397. 21. (11) Michael McDowell, Ford, 397. 22. (17) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 396. 23. (20) Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet, 396. 24. (25) William Byron (P), Chevrolet, 396. 25. (22) Daniel Hemric #, Chevrolet, 396. 26. (30) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 396. 27. (24) Paul Menard, Ford, 395. 28. (34) Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, 395. 29. (29) Corey LaJoie, Ford, 395. 30. (21) Ryan Preece #, Chevrolet, 394. 31. (23) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, 393. 32. (32) Austin Theriault, Chevrolet, 392. 33. (38) JJ Yeley(i), Ford, 391. 34. (35) Spencer Boyd(i), Chevrolet, 388. 35. (36) Quin Houff, Chevrolet, 384. 36. (31) Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, Brakes, 265. 37. (33) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, Accident, 233. 38. (16) Erik Jones (P), Toyota, 400. Average Speed of Race Winner: 101.437 mph. Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 57 Mins, 27 Secs. Margin of Victory: 2.630 Seconds. Caution Flags: 5 for 32 laps. Lead Changes: 6 among 3 drivers. Lap Leaders: B. Keselowski (P) 1-53;M. Truex Jr. (P) 54-103;K. Busch (P) 104-245;B. Keselowski (P) 246-281;M. Truex Jr. (P) 282-314;K. Busch (P) 315-374;M. Truex Jr. (P) 375-400. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Kyle Busch (P) 2 times for 202 laps; Martin Truex Jr. (P) 3 times for 109 laps; Brad Keselowski (P) 2 times for 89 laps. By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service
