Truex doubles down with Stage 2 victory at Dover

Truex beat Jimmie Johnson to the line by 0.839-seconds. Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones and Kasey Kahne rounded out the top 10.

Kyle Larson took off in clean air on the Lap 126 restart at Dover International Speedway. He was one of 12 drivers to stay out during the caution between stages. Truex, the first driver with fresh tires, rolled off 13th. Ryan Blaney, who restarted third, quickly moved to second.

By Lap 131, Larson extended his lead by 10-car lengths over Blaney. Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Kahne, Jones, Hamlin, Suarez, Jamie McMurray and Truex rounded out the top 10. Kenseth passed Blaney over the next five laps followed by Kyle Busch, Jones, Truex, Hamlin, Johnson, Kahne and Suarez.

The seventh caution was ignited by Danica Patrick’s soft spin off of Turn 3. Larson maintained the lead followed by Kenseth, Blaney, Truex, Kyle Busch, Jones, Johnson, Hamlin and Kahne. The leaders came to pit while Michael McDowell remained on the track to take the lead. Larson was the first off of pit road followed by Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Truex, Johnson, Hamlin, Jones, Paul Menard and Blaney — who received left front damage to the nose of the No. 21 Ford after contact with Kenseth on pit road.

Larson started lapping the field on Lap 170. Over the next 20 circuits, the No. 42 passed 11 cars and extended his lead over Kyle Busch by 2.2-seconds. Truex, Johnson, Kenseth, Jones, Blaney, Harvick, Elliott and McMurray rounded out the top 10.

Joey Logano was running 12th when he blew a right front tire in Turn 3 on Lap 193 to bring out the eighth caution. Larson had a 1.987-second lead over Kyle Busch and had led 99 laps entering the pits. Truex, Johnson, Kenseth, Jones, Blaney, Harvick, Elliott and McMurray rounded out the top 10.

Larson led the field to the restart on Lap 198. Truex, Kyle Busch, Johnson, Kenseth, Jones, Blaney, Harvick, Elliott and Suarez rounded out the top 10. Logano restarted 30th.

Truex took the lead from Larson coming to Lap 212. Johnson was third followed by Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Harvick, Elliott, Blaney, Jones and McMurray. One lap later, Johnson passed Larson for second.

Landon Cassill hit the Turn 2 wall on Lap 217 after his right front tire went flat. Truex held the point followed by Johnson, Larson, Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Harvick, Elliott, Blaney, Jones, McMurray and Kahne.

Larson was the only driver to pit from the lead lap and restarted 17th on Lap 223. Truex led followed by Johnson, Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Harvick, Elliott, Blaney and Kahne. On fresh tires, he moved up to 11th on the first lap and into the top 10 one lap later. By Lap 228, Larson ran eighth.

With 10 laps remaining in the stage, Truex held a 0.968-second lead over Johnson. Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Harvick, Larson, Elliott, Blaney, Jones and Kahne rounded out the top 10. On Lap 236, Larson passed Harvick for fifth. Larson’s 115 laps were the most led in the first 240 laps.

Blaney broke another axle on the pit stop and headed to the garage for service after finishing eighth in the stage.