Fuel only stop vaults Denny Hamlin to win in Texas Stage 2

A gas-and-go pitstop elevated Denny Hamlin to the win in Stage 2 at Texas.

Stage 1 winner Joey Logano brought the field down pit road but lost the lead to Kyle Busch by way of a two-tire pit stop.

Meanwhile, Martin Truex, Jr. stayed out under the yellow and brought the field down to the green flag. Kurt Busch followed ahead of the Stewart Haas Racing teammates of Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick.

Busch fought his way through traffic and took the lead on Lap 99. He only led eight laps until Chase Elliott made his way past on Lap 109.

Elliott held the lead for the next 35 laps as Busch fell into the clutches of Stage 1 winner Joey Logano. The 2018 Cup Champion moved Busch back to third as Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five.

Kurt Busch kicked off the next round of pitstops when he came down pit road on 139. Elliott continued to lead until he pitted on Lap 143 which moved Kyle Busch back to the lead.

Busch led the next six laps until the caution flag flew on Lap 149 when Kyle Larson hit the Turn 2 wall and leaked fluid on the track.

Hamlin leapfrogged his teammate on pit road by only taking fuel and took for the first time of the day. Busch followed with Ryan Blaney and Daniel Suarez in tow.

Meanwhile, Logano’s chances for repeating a stage win were dashed when he was penalized for an uncontrolled tire.

Hamlin vaulted away when the race restarted with 16 to go, and he held that position to the stage’s conclusion.

Blaney moved second while Daniel Suarez took third ahead of Kyle Busch in fourth and Paul Menard in fifth.

Roush Fenway Racing cars claimed the next two spots led by Ryan Newman in sixth and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. in seventh.

William Byron took eighth while Michael McDowell and pole-sitter Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top ten.