For the second straight year, Martin Truex Jr. has won at Chicagoland to begin the postseason.
With the win, Truex automatically advances from the Round of 16 to the Round of 12. It was the fifth win of the season for Truex, which is the most of any driver this season.
.@MartinTruex_Jr is starting the #NASCARPlayoffs strong. He gets his fifth win of the season, winning at @ChicagolndSpdwy! #TruexJr pic.twitter.com/wsLVFNyZWj
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 17, 2017
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Truex led for 77 of the 267 laps, and he had a 7.179-second lead over second-place finisher Chase Elliott. Elliott won the second stage of the race, but couldn't hold on for the victory.
Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski finished third through sixth.
Joey Logano finished seventh, followed by Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray and Ryan Blaney.
Kyle Busch dominated the first stage of the race as he led for 78 laps, which is actually more than Truex led. But a loose wheel issue and a penalty for his pit crew going over the wall set him back later in the race and gave Truex his opportunity.
Truex said after the race that he was proud of the way his team fought and competed for the victory.
"OH YEAAAAAAAAA!" - @MartinTruex_Jr
He's through to the Round of 12 in the #NASCARPlayoffs ! #TruexJr pic.twitter.com/ccl05eEgik
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 17, 2017
Truex struggled to finish races the last two weeks, but he closed this one out and secured a berth into the next round.
(h/t NBC Sports)