The final road course race of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series began with Kyle Busch taking the lead from the front row and keeping that lead for every lap of stage one to claim the stage win that concluded on the completion of lap 20.
Daniel Suarez and his team played the strategy right and had a car that was fast enough to claim the win in stage two of the race at the end of lap 40.
The race had many cars racing for position from start to finish, but was pretty uneventful for the most part. The only two caution periods through the first 50 laps were at the end of the stages. The only other caution period was for debris on the track on lap 53.
Throughout the race Martin Truex Jr. was near the front of leading the race. He had a total of 24 laps as the lead car to claim the most laps led in the 90 lap race.
Throughout the race we saw different strategies being used to put cars in the place to have a chance to win the race. The #78 Toyota had been the best car in races like this one and fell victim to fuel mileage that cost him the win. That would not be the case this time.
Not only was the #78 the class of the field in the race, Martin and his team went into fuel saving mode following his final pit stop. While other cars passed him on the track, Martin was able to hold the spot that would allow him to conserve enough fuel and be the leader when the others either had to pit or ran out of gas. Not only was he able to win the race, but even though it appeared he ran out of gas claim the win there was still enough fuel in his car to do a victory burnout.
Matt Kenseth claimed the runner up spot just fractions of a second behind Martin. Daniel Suarez captured a third place finish while Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer finished in fourth and fifth place respectively. See the complete race results for the I Love New York 355 at The Glen here.
The win gives Martin Truex Jr. more playoff points and keeps him at the top spot in the point standings. Kyle Busch had a strong car at Watkins Glen, but found some bad luck that prevented him from challenging for the win after winning stage one of the race. However, he was able to move up two spots in the standings to second place. Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick were pushed back a spot each to third and fourth respectively. Last week Denny Hamlin was pushed back to sixth in the points by Brad Keselowski. This week Denny returns the favor by pushing Brad back and reclaiming fifth place in the standings. See the complete Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series point standings here.
Martin Truex Jr.’s win at Watkins Glen prevented another driver yet to win in the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series season from securing a spot on the Chase Grid. Now there are four races left and still only three spots out of 16 total in NASCAR’s playoffs being filled by points alone.
That will make this weekend’s race at Michigan International Speedway even more important to those drivers needing a win to make the playoffs. We will find out if there is another repeat winner or a new Chase contender added to the list Sunday, August 13th in the Pure Michigan 400.
By: Buck Stevens
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2017 I Love New York 355 at The Glen
WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, leads during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, drives during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 STANLEY Toyota, drives during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Beer Ford, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, lead a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, crosses the finish line to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, Sherry Pollex, and crew chief Cole Pearn celebrate in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, celebrates his fourth win by adding the winner's sticker to his car in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)