Jones holds off Hamlin for 2nd win at Darlington
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Erik Jones took the lead when Kyle Busch’s engine blew up, then pulled away from Denny Hamlin after a final restart 20 laps from the end to win the opening NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Darlington Raceway on Sunday night.
Hamlin, seeded sixth in the playoffs, closed in on Jones’ back bumper on the final lap, but couldn’t make the winning pass. Jones went on to his second career win at Darlington and third NASCAR victory.
It was also the 200th win by the iconic No. 43 car, with most tied to Hall of Famer Richard Petty.
“He said if I won, I was going to get a (cowboy) hat,” Jones laughed.
Jones became the first non-playoff driver to win the opener in NASCAR’s 10-race run to a title. And he did it as many of the top seeds had breakdowns and wrecks.
Along with Busch’s blow up, No. 9 seed Kevin Harvick saw his car catch fire in a scary scene. Harvick scrambled away from his stopped car.
Top-seeded Chase Elliott was gone during the first stage, sliding into the wall, hitting Chase Briscoe as he tore up his suspension and was out of the race.
Kyle Larson, the defending series champion, was three laps down in the opening stage after engine problems. Larson finished 12th.
Hamlin was second followed by three more playoff chasers in Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano and Christopher Bell. Michael McDowell was sixth, then Brad Keselowski, William Byron, Bubba Wallace
Busch led 155 of 367 laps, the most of anyone. He ended in 30th.
McLaughlin wins; Power gets closer
Scott McLaughlin led a Team Penske rout at Portland International Raceway by scoring his third victory of the season in a 1-2 finish that moved Will Power one race closer to the IndyCar titlre
McLaughlin led 104 of the 110 laps in Portland, Ore., to pick up his third victory of the season. He trails only Penske teammate Josef Newgarden (five) in most series wins, but an inconsistent season has the New Zealander clinging to any title chances.
McLaughlin goes to next Sunday’s season finale at Laguna Seca in California ranked fifth in the standings, 41 points behind Power but still mathematically in the hunt.
Verstappen extends F1 lead
Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen made quick work of a safety car restart to win the Dutch Grand Prix in front of 100,000 adoring fans, and make it four straight wins for the first time in his F1 careerin Zandvoort, Netherlands.
Verstappen’s 10th win matched his tally from last year and the Red Bull driver extended his championship lead to 109 points.
With seven races left a second straight title is looking increasingly likely as his challengers — Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and teammate Sergio Perez in joint second — continue to fall back.
His second straight win here — and 30th career win — was even more special because of a gearbox problem in Friday’s first practice session.
George Russell finished second for Mercedes ahead of Leclerc, with Lewis Hamilton dropping from first to fourth.