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Truex dominates Cup race at Kentucky

Pole-sitter repeats as NASCAR winner at track

Associated Press
Martin Truex Jr. celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup race at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday. [Albert Cesare/Cincinnati Enquirer/The Associated Pres]

SPARTA, Ky. — Martin Truex Jr. won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway, passing Brad Keselowski and then Kurt Busch late on the way to repeating as champion Saturday night.

Truex’s No. 78 Toyota Camry appeared even more dominant than last ywE as he led five times for 174 of 267 laps and swept the first two stages from the pole. The defending Cup champion always was in contention in the 400-mile race, even while trailing. He proved it at key moments late, overtaking Keselowski on lap 201 and Busch 23 laps later to become Kentucky’s first back-to-back winner, earning his fourth victory this season and 19th of his career.

Ryan Blaney and Keselowski were next in Fords, followed by Kyle Busch (Toyota) and Kevin Harvick (Ford).

Dominant as Truex was a year ago in leading 152 of 274 laps, Busch and Keselowski loomed as favorites after combining for five victories in the previous seven races. Keselowski’s knack for winning this race in even-numbered years especially was compelling, and for a moment it looked like he might do it again with a bold rush off pit road to claim the lead entering the final segment.

Truex soon took care of that before Busch grabbed the lead on lap 210, a brief edge as the defending Cup champion took over for good 14 laps later.

Truex’s dominant run to victory last year provided an opening some hoped might expand membership in Kentucky Speedway’s exclusive winner’s club. He turned out keeping things the same by taking control when he wanted.

It was that way all night for Truex, who led 51 laps to win the first stage and led 118 after claiming the second. Even when he trailed, it wasn’t by much as he stayed close enough to make a run.

Rounding out the top 10 were Kurt Busch, Erik Jones — who started second in a Toyota — Aric Almirola, Kyle Larson and Joey Logano. Larson ran in the top five for much of the night, an impressive performance considering he started from the back of the field as penalty for missing driver introductions.

Kurt Busch led three times for 45 laps, while Keselowski led twice for 38.

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The series heads to Loudon, New Hampshire on July 22 for its lone New England stop. Denny Hamlin won last year’s 301-mile race.