Truex and Hamlin pit, handing Stage 2 win to Clint Bowyer

Bowyer held the point by 4.6-seconds over Brad Keselowski. Danica Patrick, Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Trevor Bayne, Michael McDowell and AJ Allmendinger finished in the top 10 at the end of the second stage after eight of the top 10 drivers pitted with three laps remaining in the segment.

"Man, this car has been good all day long and all weekend long. Right off the truck we've had speed," Bowyer said during the break. "We have a different task at hand now that some of those cars pit but I'm hoping we can use these four fresh tires, get up there and give them a run for the money.

"You know, what do you do? You're damned if you do (pit before the break), damned if you don't. You got to try to get these points. We can still make our way in (the playoffs) on points but we need a win - everybody knows our situation.

"We just got to do the best we can. I thought that was a smart decision (to stay out)."

Between the stages, Matt Kenseth remained on the track while the leaders pitted and restarted the second stage from the point on Lap 56 followed by Kyle Busch.

When the pack hit Turn 3, Busch rolled around the outside for the lead followed by Kenseth, Truex, Harvick, Larson, McMurray, Bowyer, Keselowski, Suarez and Jones. Coming through Turn 3, Kasey Kahne was attempting to pass Jimmie Johnson for 15th and the No. 48 Chevy went into the spin cycle to ignite Caution 3.

Johnson went to the garage. Keselowski pitted from seventh followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kahne, Joey Logano, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (who was the lucky dog), Austin Dillon, Hamlin, Michael McDowell, Landon Cassill,

Busch held the lead followed by Kenseth, Truex, Harvick, Larson, McMurray, Suarez, Bowyerl, Newman and Jones when the race restarted on Lap 61. Blaney, Elliott, Patrick, Kurt Busch and Trevor Bayne completed the top 15. Keselowski, the first car on fresh tires and restarted 19th. Harvick moved past Kenseth and Truex for second.

Blaney, who won here in June, was forced to pit from 11th on Lap 63 with a right front tire rub. He restarted 29th, one lap down.

After 65 laps, Kyle Busch led followed by Harvick, Larson, Truex, Kenseth, Bowyer, McMurray, Elliott, Suarez and Newman. Blaney returned to pit road for further repairs on the following lap.

Larson was running third when he broke a drive shaft and was forced to pit on Lap 70. Busch held a 1.3-second lead over Harvick. Truex, Bowyer, McMurray, Elliott, Kenseth, Suarez, Newman and Patrick rounded out the top 10.

The leaders pitting on Lap 71. Hamlin and Austin Dillon remained on the track. Keselowski, who came from 19th to 12th, before the caution and Earnhardt took two tires. The Nos. 2 and 88 restarted third and fifth, respectively with Kyle Busch in between. Harvick, Truex, Bowyer, Elliott and Kenseth rounded out the top 10.

The race returned to green on Lap 74, however, NASCAR claimed that Hamlin didn’t maintain speed and declared Austin Dillon the control car. Hamlin regained the lead followed by Kyle Busch, Keselowski, Truex, Harvick, Bowyer, Elliott, Kenseth, Dillon and Suarez.

Busch struggled into Turn 1 and dropped to seventh over the next two laps. Hamlin held the point followed by Keselowski, Truex, Bowyer, Harvick, Elliott, Busch, Kenseth, Jones and Suarez on Lap 77.

“I don’t know what the (expletive) happened,” Busch said. “I’m (expletive) sideways.”

With 20 laps to decide the stage, Hamlin held a 0.432-second advantage over Keselowski. Truex, Bowyer, Harvick, Elliott, Kyle Busch, Jones, Kenseth and Suarez completed the top 10.

Truex blew past Keselowski for second coming to the line after 84 laps. Bowyer and Harvick also passed the No. 2 Ford who dropped to fifth. Elliott, Kyle Busch, Jones, Kenseth and Suarez rounded out the top 10. Elliott moved up to fifth on the next lap with Kyle Busch in tow.
With 10 laps remaining, Truex passed Hamlin in the Tunnel Turn for the lead. Bowyer ran third followed by Harvick, Elliott, Kyle Busch, Jones, Keselowski, Kenseth and Suarez.

With five laps remaining, Truex extended his lead by 1.439-seconds over Hamlin. Bowyer, Harvick, Elliott, Kyle Busch, Jones, Keselowski, Kenseth and Suarez held onto the top 10.

Truex pitted from the lead with three laps remaining in the stage followed by Hamlin, Harvick, Elliott, Kyle Busch, Jones, Kenseth and Suarez. Bowyer took the lead followed by Keselowski and Partrick. Truex, restarted 12th.

There were 10 lead change among eight drivers. Kyle Busch’s 48 laps were the most led.

Michael McDowell, Trevor Bayne, Kasey Kahne and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. were busted for speeding on pit road between segments.