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SPORTS Monday 7 august 2017

Truex wins fuel-mileage

gamble at Watkins Glen

By JOHN KEKIS worked out for us.” qualifying earlier in the
AP Sports Writer Trailing by 3 seconds after day, was the class of the
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) — saving fuel for several laps, field early and gained a
One by one they passed Truex assumed the lead big lead after the green
him as the laps dwindled at in his No. 78 Toyota when flag dropped and led all
Watkins Glen International, Blaney ducked into the pits 20 laps of the first stage.
and Martin Truex Jr. stuck as the white flag was about By the eighth time around
to the plan. In the end, he to fly. Despite a bobble the 2.45-mile circuit, Busch
was the one laughing in and locking the brakes as held a 3.4-second lead
victory lane. Kenseth challenged on the over Truex, while Keselowski
Truex held off a charging last lap, Truex won for the in sixth was 10 seconds be-
Matt Kenseth on the final fourth time this season. hind. It was Busch’s ninth
lap and won the NASCAR “He was so fast, I still stage win of the season.
Cup race on Sunday at The couldn’t get to him,” said Busch, who overcame a pit
Glen, stretching his fuel to Kenseth, who maintained road penalty early in Sat-
the triumphant end. It was his slim points lead over urday’s Xfinity race at The
the second road course Clint Bowyer for the final Glen and rallied to win, had
victory of his career. slot in the playoffs with four to return to the pits after
“I’ve wanted to win here races to go before the cut- his first stop to check for a
for a long time. This is a big off. “I was racing as hard as loose wheel and restarted
one for our team,” Truex I could, trying to make as 34th. By the end of the sec-
said. “I never ran 100 per- many passes as I could.” ond stage, he had worked
cent because I didn’t have Daniel Suarez was third, his way back through the
to. I ran hard enough (on the best finish of his rookie field and was ninth at the Martin Truex Jr. celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series
the last lap) to just try to season, followed by Denny end, in contention again. auto race, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017, in Watkins Glen, N.Y.
manage that gap.” Hamlin and Bowyer. Pole- Busch encountered more Associated Press
Truex gained the lead sitter Kyle Busch was sev- trouble just past the half-
when Penske Racing’s Brad enth. way point of the 90-lap
Keselowski in the No. 2 Ford Truex boosted his playoff race. His No. 18 Toyota Truex passed Bowyer for straight top-10 for Joe
and Ryan Blaney in the No. points total to a whop- suffered damage after second on lap 61 and Gibbs Racing in the No. 19
21 Ford for the Wood Broth- ping 34, nearly double that a restart when he made caught Keselowski three Toyota, and racing up front
ers were forced to pit in the of second-place Jimmie contact with Keselowski in laps later, passing him on the whole day on a tricky
final three laps. Johnson (18) as his best the Inner Loop while rac- the final turn of lap 64. But road course added anoth-
“It’s excruciating to go that season shows no signs of ing for seventh. Keselowski with fuel mileage coming er dose of confidence.
slow here and try to save tailing off. bounced into Busch and into play, Truex started to “I knew the second half
that much fuel,” Truex said. “I feel like with the way we both slid off course. slow his pace, dropping of the year we’d be more
“The toughest part, really, run, coupled with the bo- An irate Busch pitted and back as Keselowski and competitive,” Suarez said.
was just watching the No. 2 nus points, we should be a Keselowski stayed out. Ke- Blaney drove past. “All the hard work ... is pay-
pass and go on, and then lock for (the season finale selowski pitted a couple Other things of note at ing off. Now I feel like we’re
watching the No. 21 pass at) Homestead,” Truex said. of laps later for tires, and Watkins Glen: moving in the right direc-
and go on. It’s like, ‘All “But at the same time, this when a caution flew he SUAREZ SHINES tion. I’m not surprised any-
right, if they don’t run out is racing and anything can gained the lead for the re- The Mexican rookie won more to be running in the
of gas, we’re going to look happen.” start after much of the field his first stage of the sea- top 10. I just have to keep
really dumb.’ Fortunately, it Busch, who dominated pitted. son and notched his fourth it up.”q