2017 Watkins Glen results from August 6th, 2017 featuring the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Today, it’s the twisty bit of the NASCAR schedule. The MENCS tours the Watkins Glen International circuit. NASCAR goes road course racing.
View full 2017 Watkins Glen results below.
When NASCAR drivers go to a road course, it’s more like a short track. Add fenders, road courses tend to get physical. Less so at The Glen, than Sonoma. But it’s still going to be a great show.
Stage 1 and stage 2 are 20 laps a piece. The final stage is extended, at 50 laps. A total of 90 laps.
Stage 1
It’s an all Kyle, all Toyota front row. Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson lead the field to green. Trevor Bayne pulls to the garage before they even get going, brake issues.
Green flag, Kyle Busch gets the jump at the flag. He nearly clears Kyle Larson into turn 1. He completes the pass on the exit. Kyle Busch to the lead. Larson holds off Truex to remain 2nd. Single file out of turn 3.
Lap 2, Jamie McMurray pulls out to make an inside pass back in turn 1. That was a surprise to Allmendinger. AJ Allmendinger was the car ahead, with a car to his inside he’s forced to use more brake. He was already under braking before McMurray made the move. The additional brake pedal gets Allmendinger loose, he wiggles and chases the car into the runoff. Allmendinger loses several positions.
Lap 4, move Truex to 2nd. Kyle Busch leads by 2.9 seconds. Larson is set to loose another position. Chase Elliott has been glued to his bumper for an entire lap.
Lap 9, there’s a new car chasing the leader. Still, Kyle Busch is opening the gap to Martin Truex Jr. He now leads by 3.5 seconds.
5 to go, Boris Said is off track in the bus stop. It’s his final NASCAR race. He’s already destroyed the primary car in practice, same corner. This time he’s lucky, no splitter damage.
3 to go, Erik Jones overshoots the bus stop. He bails completely on the corner. He comes to a complete stop and gets going again, per rules.
Daniel Suarez, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and more are on pit road. These guys will lead the field to green in stage 2.
Dale Earnhardt Jr is suffering from mechanical issues. Dale Jr was called from the pit box, “Hit the diagnostics page.” He’s trying to find the problem, while racing the car.
Martin Truex Jr remains 2nd. 5 full seconds up the road, Kyle Busch wins stage 1 at Watkins Glen.
Stage 1 Results: 1. Kyle Busch; 2. Martin Truex Jr; 3. Chase Elliott; 4. Kyle Larson; 5. Brad Keselowski; 6. Jamie McMurray; 7. Joey Logano; 8. AJ Allmendinger; 9. Kasey Kahne; 10. Ricky Stenhouse Jr;
Stage 2
Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson and others stay out. The rest of the front runners hit pit road. Kyle leads them off pit road.
Trouble! Kyle Busch radio, “Comin’ back to you. Loose wheel. I am 1000% confident.” A lug nut was sandwiched between the wheel and the brake caliper.
Green flag, Chase Elliott gets the jump. He clears Larson before the braking zone. Late brake from Larson he makes it all back, pulls even with Elliott. Way to much speed into turn 1, Larson swings wide on exit. He falls to 4th.
Lap 29, Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson are on pit road. Trouble for Jamie McMurray, the crew couldn’t get the old LF tire off, now they can’t get the new one on. Long stop.
Lap 32, Chase Elliott is on pit road. That’s the last remaining car who’s yet to come to pit road. The lead is handed to Daniel Suarez.
Dale Earnhardt Jr is in the garage. The mechanical issues have forced an early retirement from the race. Despite falling from the race, Earnhardt Jr remains in the garage area, signing autographs for fans.
Dale Earnhardt Jr, “We had a problem with the valve train. We pushed a push rod through the valve cover. I was looking forward to coming here. We changed this car inside and out, twice this weekend. When we showed up we were 4 seconds off. I sure have enjoyed racing here.”
3 to go, Suarez still leads. However, Martin Truex Jr has been running him down since they dropped the green on stage 2. Kyle Buch has passed 23 cars, he’s up to 9th.
1 to go, Martin Truex Jr is on the bumper of Daniel Suarez in turn 5. He gets a run, not enough to make a room in turn 6. Turn 7, Daniel Suarez takes it all the way to the inside yellow line, a huge block.
He’s going to hold him off. Daniel Suarez wins stage 2! It’s the first stage win of his NASCAR career.
Stage 2 Results: 1. Daniel Suarez; 2. Martin Truex Jr; 3. Matt Kenseth; 4. Ryan Blaney; 5. Erik Jones; 6. Denny Hamlin; 7. Brad Keselowski; 8. Kurt Busch; 9. Kyle Busch; 10. AJ Allmendinger;
Stage 3
Pit road is open. Most of the leaders stay out.
Daniel Suarez talks about the block to win stage 2, “I guess that was a go kart move.”
Green flag, Daniel Suarez and Martin Truex Jr side-by-side in turn 1. Truex has the faster car on exit. That’s the only car that’s been able to hang on the outside line. He leads into turn 2.
Trouble! Kyle Busch is around with Brad Keselowski. They tried to enter the inner-loop side-by-side. They fight for space at the entry, Kyle Busch might have pinched him a bit. Keselowski jumps the curb, he slams into the door of Kyle Busch. They both get turned. Still green.
Kyle Busch radio, “I will get him if I can get to him.”
Lap 50, Brad Keselowski is on pit road.
Caution. Landon Cassill has blown a tire in turn 1. He’s forced to coast all the way around the track to get back to pit road. In that time, the tire comes off the rim. It remains on the racing surface. Actual debris.
The field hits pit road. Big problems for Kevin Harvick! He was told to leave “go, go, go” after a 4 tire stop. He went and plowed into Brett Moffitt who was entering his box ahead of Harvick’s.
Lap 54, green flag. Brad Keselowski clears the field into turn 1. Jamie McMurray settles into 2nd.
Lap 56, Danica Patrick is around. No caution. Kyle Busch drove hard into turn 1, he turned her on entry.
Lap 58, the top 3 line up nose to tail for the race lead. Brad Keselowski leads. Clint Bowyer and Jamie McMurray line up behind. 2 seconds back, the black Toyota is coming.
Lap 59, McMurray loses ground to the top 2. Truex reels him in, he dives to the inside of McMurray in turn 7. He makes it looks easy. Truex to 3rd.
Lap 61, Martin Truex Jr just turned the fast lap of the race. He stalks Clint Bowyer through turn 3 and up the hill. He takes a low exit in turn 4. He’s got a run. Truex takes 2nd in the bus stop.
Lap 64, Martin Truex takes a peek to the inside of Brad Keselowski in the bus stop. No good, he bails. The fight isn’t over. He remains on his bumper through 5 and now turn 6. To the inside in turn 7. New leader, Martin Truex Jr.
Lap 59, Kyle Larson is on pit road. Brad Keselowski is still on track. However, Team Penske is 6 laps short of making it to the finish. He remains 2nd.
15 to go, Kyle Busch is up to 8th. Joey Logano is on pit road. Clint Bowyer is in fuel saving mode, lifting 100 feet early in at least 4 corners per lap.
14 to go, Brad Keselowski is back on the charge. To the outside at the inner-loop. Not sure where that came from? I think Truex Jr just let him by so he can save his tires in the case of a restart. Keselowski will have to hit pit road regardless.
9 to go, Kasey Kahne and Chase Elliott are on pit road. Ryan Blaney is around Martin Truex Jr as well. Truex was told to “let him by.”
What’s the race for the lead? Who’s going to run out?
6 to go, Kyle Busch is up to 4th, he’s about to pass Truex for 3rd. However, he’s about to hit pit road. Busch to the pits, splash and go.
4 to go, Jamie McMurray is in the pits. Splash and go. Brad Keselowski is in pit road. Trouble! Penalty to Brad Keselowski, he drove through too many pit stall en-route to his pit box.
3 to go, Ryan Blaney is the new leader. He’s out fuel! Truex back to the lead.
1 to go, Truex leads Matt Kenseth and Daniel Suarez. Truex locks up in turn 6! He shaking the car down the front straight! Is he out? He crosses the line!
Martin Truex Jr wins at Watkins Glen! It’s his 4th win of the season.
View full 2017 Watkins Glen results below.
Martin Truex Jr, “I cant believe that. Man, that’s so stressful to just let guys go by for the lead. I’ve never had to do that before. Hats off to this whole team.”
The race winner continued, “I’ve wanted to win here a long long time. This is a special place. I think back to the 90’s watching my dad run here. And coming here as a kid, spending time in the garage, just walking around. Wishing some day to race year, let alone win.”
From victory lane, Martin Truex Jr looks at his wife, “My good luck charms back.”
Author: Shane Walters
2017 Watkins Glen Video Highlights
August 6th, 2017
NASCAR Cup Series
2017 Watkins Glen Results
August 6th, 2017
NASCAR Cup Series
Related: Watkins Glen Starting Lineup
1. Martin Truex Jr
2. Matt Kenseth
3. Daniel Suarez
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Clint Bowyer
6. Kurt Busch
7. Kyle Busch
8. Ryan Blaney
9. AJ Allmendinger
10. Erik Jones
11. Chris Buescher
12. Michael McDowell
13. Chase Elliott
14. Jamie McMurray
15. Brad Keselowski
16. Kasey Kahne
17. Kevin Harvick
18. Paul Menard
19. Ty Dillon
20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
21. Aric Almirola
22. Danica Patrick
23. Kyle Larson
24. Joey Logano
25. Ryan Newman
26. Austin Dillon
27. David Ragan
28. Matt DiBenedetto
29. Jimmie Johnson
30. Boris Said
31. Gary Klutt
32. Brett Moffitt
33. Corey LaJoie
34. Cole Whitt
35. Trevor Bayne
36. Landon Cassill
37. Dale Earnhardt Jr
Links
Watkins Glen International
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