Martin Truex Jr. wins Bojangles' Southern 500 throwback race

In #NASCARThrowback @Gatorade Victory Lane @TooToughToTame... @MartinTruex_Jr is #BojanglesSo500 champ! #askMRN pic.twitter.com/7wjjoFY61d

— Motor Racing Network (@MRNRadio) September 5, 2016

DARLINGTON, SC – Martin Truex Jr. was able to keep a charging Kevin Harvick behind him to win the Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' throwback race in 2016.

"It was nice to have the best car in the race and win," Truex said in victory lane.

Truex led 28 of the 367 laps in the Furniture Row Racing No. 78 Toyota to post his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory of the season, his first on the 1.366-mile track and the fifth of his career.

Pole-starter Kevin Harvick dominated early in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Chevrolet, leading a race-high 214 laps, but settled for second place. He was hampered by a slow pit stop in the 280th lap, dropping him from the lead to 12th place leaving pit road. He rallied to the runner-up spot, .607 seconds behind at the checkered flag.

Kyle Larson led 45 laps and came home third in the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet. Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin, who led for 13 circuits, and Team Penske's Joey Logano completed the top five.

Keselowski started second and also spent time in the top spot early, leading twice for 47 laps. Keselowski, however, was slowed twice by loose wheels and faded to a ninth-place finish.

The series' next event is the final regular-season race of the season, Saturday night's Federated Auto Parts 400 (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Richmond International Raceway. The 16-driver field for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs will be set after the 400-lapper on the .75-mile track.

RACE PHOTOS (via @MRNRadio)