DARLINGTON, S.C. — After so many years of trying in all three of NASCAR’s top three series, Elliott Sadler finally earned his first trip to victory lane at the lady in black.
Under partly cloudy skies, Paul Menard led the field to the green flag just shortly 4 p.m. Sadler eventually ran down and drove by Menard to take the lead on the seventh lap. The first caution of the race flew on lap 21 when BJ McLeod got into the wall, turned down the track and hit the inside wall driver’s side.
The race got back underway on lap 27. The 88 car, driven by Kevin Harvick, went behind the wall on lap 34 and retired from the race with engine issues. Denny Hamlin took the lead for the first time on lap 47. Mario Gosselin brought out the second caution of the race on lap 51 after riding the wall in Turn 4 and spinning down the track.
The race returned to green on lap 56. After that, it settled into a follow the leader scenario until Kyle Larson decided to drive to the outside of both Hamlin and Dakoda Armstrong in Turn 4 to take the lead on lap 91. A few laps later, however, Larson brought out the third caution of the race after he spun out trying to get slowed down entering the pits. Three other cars, Ryan Blaney, Ross Chastain and Carl Long, spun out later in Turn 4 in a separate incident. It all shuffled Hamlin back into the lead.
The race restarted with 36 laps to go. But Hamlin would not get the better restart. That honor went to Sadler who out-raced him going into Turn 1 to take the lead with 35 laps to go. Sadler maintained a sizable advantage over Hamlin until two to go when he got into the wall and Hamlin pulled alongside him. Sadler denied him the lead and scored the victory.
It’s his 12th career victory in 320 XFINITY Series starts, second of 2016,his 21st top-10 finish of the season, first victory at Darlington Raceway and sixth top-10 finish in 13 races at Darlington.
Denny Hamlin led 47 laps on his way to a runner-up finish in his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. It’s his ninth top-10 finish in nine races at Darlington and second top-10 finish of the season.
Daniel Suarez rounded out the podium in his No. 19 JGR Toyota.
Kyle Larson led 12 laps on his way to a fourth-place finish in his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. Brennan Poole rounded out the top-five in his No. 48 CGR Chevrolet.
Erik Jones finished sixth in his No. 20 JGR Toyota. Ryan Blaney led five laps on his way to a seventh-place finish in his No. 22 Team Penske Ford. Jeremy Clements finished eighth in his No. 51 Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet. Brandon Jones finished ninth in his No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Ryan Preece rounded out the top-10 in his No. 01 JD Motorsports Chevrolet.
Menard, who led six laps, finished 20th. Garrett Smithley, who led two laps, finished 21st.
Fifteen cars finished the race on the lead lap and 28 were running at the finish.
The race lasted one hour, 33 minutes and 36 seconds at an average speed of 128.719 mph. There were eight lead changes among six different drivers and three cautions for 17 laps.
Sadler leaves Darlington with a 54-point lead over Suarez in the points standings.
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