Busch led 352 laps in Sunday’s STP 500 for his first Sprint Cup win at “the paperclip,” capping a two-day run that also included a victory in Saturday’s Camping World Truck Series Alpha Energy Solutions 250.
MORE: Race recap | Martinsville images | Hamlin crashes out
On Sunday, a caution reset the field with 34 laps to go and again with 11 laps remaining as drivers began swapping paint as the race winded down. Matt Kenseth joined Busch on the front row for the final restart, but with old tires and an outside position, he dropped 14 spots for a 15th-place finish.
Joey Logano, the pole-setter and Kenseth’s rival after an intentional crash last November at Martinsville, led just 21 laps and was a lap down at one point in the race. He finished 11th. AJ Allmendinger tied a career best at an oval with his runner-up finish, while Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top five.
A blown tire on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s car just four laps into the race forced NASCAR’s most popular driver to work his way from one lap down. A caution on Lap 311 put Junior back on the lead lap. He battled back for a 14th-place finish.
STP 500 results
- — non-chartered car; # — rookie
