AVONDALE, AZ - MARCH 18: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, talks with Martin Truex Jr, driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 18, 2017 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

NASCAR driver clinches the regular season championship at Darlington


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Martin Truex Jr. didn't need much to clinch the regular season championship, and he accomplished the feat after winning Stage 2 at the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Truex held a comfortable 101-point lead over second-place Kyle Busch entering the race, and he added to his lead by winning the first two stages of the race.

Truex won the first stage in dramatic fashion over Kyle Larson.

Related: Stage 1 at Darlington ends in a photo finish

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Truex then won Stage 2--his 17th stage win of the season--which clinched the regular season title for him.

Truex had 35 playoff points entering the race, and he will have the most of any driver entering the postseason. He also entered the night with four race wins this year, which is more than any other driver. He missed out on sweeping the stages and winning the race when he lost a tire near the end of a battle with eventual winner, Denny Hamlin.