Martin Truex Jr. didn't need much to clinch the regular season championship, and he accomplished the feat after winning Stage 2 at the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
Truex held a comfortable 101-point lead over second-place Kyle Busch entering the race, and he added to his lead by winning the first two stages of the race.
Truex won the first stage in dramatic fashion over Kyle Larson.
Not sure how to feel about stage racing? This should persuade you to love it. #NASCARThrowback #Southern500 pic.twitter.com/R6HaWODpdp
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 3, 2017
Related: Stage 1 at Darlington ends in a photo finish
Truex then won Stage 2--his 17th stage win of the season--which clinched the regular season title for him.
For the 17th time this season... Stage winner. MTJ @MartinTruex_Jr isn't sharing his stage wins, clinching the regular season championship! pic.twitter.com/luui5Y5y0I
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 4, 2017
Your regular season champion, @MartinTruex_Jr! Can he defend his Southern 500 title? Watch now on NBCSN/stream: https://t.co/OxmVLbIzft pic.twitter.com/sZp3qEBXmQ
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 4, 2017
Truex had 35 playoff points entering the race, and he will have the most of any driver entering the postseason. He also entered the night with four race wins this year, which is more than any other driver. He missed out on sweeping the stages and winning the race when he lost a tire near the end of a battle with eventual winner, Denny Hamlin.