By Matt Marr
Pole winner Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace brought the field to the green flag to start the Cook Out 400.
Wallace's battle for the lead came up short with Larson holding on to the lead for the first 80 laps, as he earned the Stage One victory.
Larson spun his tires at the start of Stage Two, giving Joey Logano the lead. Logano had made up some track position by only taking two tires during the stage break.
Christopher Bell had to make an unscheduled pit stop due to a right front tire issue on lap 111. Initially it stayed green, but eventually the caution came out for debris with Bell on pit road.
Denny Hamlin took the lead away from Logano with 10 to go in Stage Two and held Wallace off again for the stage win.
Elliott took the lead over Hamlin on lap 195.
Bell once again brought out the caution on lap 203, this time for a spin in turn 4.
William Byron led a Hendrick Motorsports charge at the front of the field with 38 laps to go.
With just 3 laps remaining, John Hunter Nemechek had a tire go down and hit the wall bringing out the caution to send us into overtime.
Byron held off the field in overtime to score his third win of the year and 29th win at Martinsville for Hendrick Motorsports during their 40th anniversary celebration.
Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott came home 2nd and 3rd marking the first time a race organization has ever filled the top three at Martinsville Speedway. Alex Bowman finished 8th to round out the Hendrick team.
Cook Out 400 Top 5:
1. William Byron
2. Kyle Larson
3. Chase Elliott
4. Bubba Wallace
5. Ryan Blaney
Comments