(ESPN/Sports Illustrated) Martin Truex Jr. cruised down the stretch and won his first NASCAR Cup race of the season Wednesday night in the first Cup race held under the lights at Martinsville Speedway, the series’ oldest venue.
Ryan Blaney finished second, followed by Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano. Emporia native Clint Bowyer started fourth and finished 17th.
Kevin Harvick still leads the points standings. Logano is second. Bowyer remains in 12th place.
The race culminated a day where NASCAR announced Confederate flags would no longer be allowed at races. Bubba Wallace, the only black driver on the circuit, started formally calling for that step this week.
At least one driver is publicly against the new stance. NASCAR Trucks driver Ray Ciccarelli announced he would be leaving the sport at the end of the season due to his disagreement with the new policy.
Confederate flags have been a familiar sight at NASCAR races over the sport’s 72-year history. NASCAR did not address how it would enforce the policy or indicate any penalties for fans who violate it by bringing the Confederate flag to a track.
