Dillon scores second career NASCAR Nationwide Series win at Kentucky

[media-credit name=”Adam Lovelace” align=”alignright” width=”216″][/media-credit]Austin Dillon, driver of the No.3 Advocare Chevrolet, started from the pole for the second time this year at Kentucky Speedway in the Kentucky 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race, with a speed of 177.264 mph and scored his second career win at Kentucky. “We have a hot rod. This car runs good here. I’ve figured something out with the line. I’m just very confident at this track”, said Dillon after his pole winning run.

Points leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr. started second in the No.6 EcoBoost Ford. Sam Hornish Jr., driving the No.12 Alliance Truck Parts Dodge for Roger Penske, started third.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. took the lead on the opening lap from Dillon and would lead early. NASCAR announced before the race that there would be a competition caution on lap 30 after heavy rains washed the rubber off the track over night. When the caution waved on lap 30, Stenhouse lead the field buy 1.593 seconds. During the pit stops for the caution, Stenhouse Jr. made contact with Eric McClure in the No.14 Hefty/Reynolds Wrap Toyota, causing damage to Stenhouse Jr’s right front. Stenhouse would have to come in the pits to repair the damage and restarted in 28th spot. Stenhouse would later have to pit again for a flat tire, ultimately losing 3 laps to the leaders and finishing in 17th.

Elliot Sadler, driving the No.2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing  passed Stenhouse for the points lead after Stenhouse Jr’s problems on the track. Sadler, who would experience steering problems during the race, ran in the top 5 most of the day and would go on to finish in fifth. Sadler now leads Stenhouse by four points followed by Dillon in third, 19 back from Sadler.

Drew Herring, making his first Nationwide Series start of the year and driving the No.18 SportClips Toyota for Joe Gibbs racing ran with the leaders most of the day and recovered from a spin to score the first top 5 finish of his career.

Sam Hornish, Jr. ran strong all day and finished in 2nd, followed by Brendan Gaughan in third. The rest of the top 10 were Cole Whitt in 6th, Michael Annett 7th, Justin Allgaier 8th, Ryan Blaney 9th, and Brad Sweet in 10th.

Johanna Long, driving the ML Motorsports No.70 Keen Parts Chevrolet had a good run and finished in 12th place. Danica Patrick, with new crew chief Ryan Pemberton, finished in 14th. Kurt Busch, driving his brother’s Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota, started last on the field after missing qualifying due to the Sprint Cup Series racing in New Hampshire. He ran up towards the front of the field before burning up a rear gear and would finish the race in 28th position.

The race had six cautions for 26 laps, with eleven lead changes among seven different drivers. Austin Dillon’s margin of victory was 1.059 seconds and he lead 65 of the races 200 laps.