NASCAR Kentucky: Martin Truex Jr dominates to take victory – NASCAR

Reigning NASCAR Cup series champion and Furniture Row Racing driver Martin Truex Jr dominated at Kentucky for his fourth win of the 2018 season.

Truex is one of three drivers to have won at least four races this year, with 2018 largely fought between himself, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick.

But Truex had little competition at Kentucky, leading 174 of the 267 laps on offer.

However, Truex did have to work his way back to the front of the field after winning stage two when Brad Keselowski cycled to the front after taking just two tyres on his stop.

Truex’s charge to the front became more complicated when Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson surged from the leading pack to pass the Furniture Row driver five laps later and demoted Truex to third.

But 10 laps later, Larson developed problems with his track bar after handling woes gave Truex second back.

Now in clear air, Truex rapidly reeled in Keselowski and moved to the front on lap 201 after the Penske driver lost time in traffic.

There was a final curveball when a caution arrived six laps later, with Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kurt Busch – yet to win a race this season – jumping Truex in the stops by taking just two tyres.

Truex dispatched Busch after a restart to lead the field to victory, with Penske’s Ryan Blaney beating the SHR driver for second.

Keselowski made moves to climb back up to third, having fallen away after the final caution.

Championship leader Kyle Busch was fourth having had to recover from contact with Clint Bowyer late in the race.

Kevin Harvick enjoyed a strong start to the race, finishing the first stage second, albeit two seconds behind Truex.

But the SHR driver dropped down to fourth in the second stage and lost more positions in the final part of the race.

Harvick finished fifth, just ahead of Kurt Busch.

Erik Jones reported engine problems early in the race but managed to hold onto a top 10 position, finishing seventh ahead of Aric Almirola.

Larson’s track bar problems had forced him into the pits during the late caution period and forced him down to 23rd place.

Larson then made a remarkable climb through the order to finish ninth, just ahead of Joey Logano.

Race result