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The Latest: Kurt Busch leads SHR stage sweep at Talladega
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — The Latest on NASCAR's playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway (all times local):
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2 p.m.
Kurt Busch has led a Stewart-Haas Racing sweep of the first stage of Sunday's playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway.
Busch started from the pole and led all but one of the 55 laps in the first stage. The only lap he wasn't credited with leading was during a pit stop under caution.
Clint Bowyer was second in the stage, followed by Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola. That's exactly how the four Fords lined up at the start and they remained in line to the end of the stage.
Playoff driver Brad Keselowski developed a vibration during the first stage and dropped to 34th. He was the lowest finishing playoff driver in the first stage.
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1 p.m.
Stewart-Haas Racing has all four of its cars at the front of the field for the start of Sunday's critical playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway.
Kurt Busch is on the pole and followed by Ford teammates Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola. The four-driver Chevrolet contingent from Hendrick Motorsports is lined up behind SHR, and three Toyota drivers follow. Teamwork will be essential early in the 500-mile race.
Drivers will work with their teammates to stay out of traffic and trouble because an accident could cripple a championship run. Talladega marks the middle race of the second round of NASCAR's playoffs, and four drivers will be trimmed from the grid after next week's race at Kansas.
It means there's very little room for error Sunday at Talladega.
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