Kyle Larson Locks into Final 4 via Vegas Victory
In a classic showcase of skill and determination, Kyle Larson secured his victory the traditional way. Piloting his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Larson dominated the race by leading the most laps and triumphing in both stage wins. However, his win was far from guaranteed, as an equally motivated Christopher Bell made a last-ditch effort to seize the victory at the start/finish line in a thrilling Sunday race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, marking the opening round of the South Point 400 in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8.
Larson displayed unwavering composure as he thwarted Bell’s final charge in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, edging ahead to claim a dramatic win with a mere 0.082-second lead. This triumph secured Larson one of the coveted positions in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 race scheduled in three weeks at Phoenix.
The race was a rollercoaster, with seven different drivers leading and an astonishing 20 lead changes throughout the day. Larson faced a formidable challenge when he defended his lead on a restart with 45 laps remaining, successfully fending off contenders like Bell and earlier race leader Brad Keselowski, the owner-driver of Roush Fenway Keselowski, who held the lead for 38 laps.
Larson’s name dominated the stats sheet, leading the pack seven times and accumulating a staggering 133 out of the 267 laps led. This remarkable performance pushed him past the 1,000 laps led mark for the season, boasting a total of 1,031 laps led in 2023, the highest in the series.
Despite his remarkable display of skill and strategy, Larson faced adversity in the middle of the race when his Chevy momentarily lost control and went sideways. However, showcasing his prowess as a former dirt race champion, he skillfully corrected his course and continued his pursuit of victory.
Larson expressed gratitude for his clean race with Bell, acknowledging the potential for a more chaotic ending. He praised his team’s exceptional work and the superb race car that propelled him to victory.
Larson reflected on his upcoming championship chase, expressing his relief that he wouldn’t have to stress over the next two races before the championship race in Phoenix. The victory held significant meaning as he advanced in the playoffs.
However, Christopher Bell, who started from the pole position and led 61 laps, found himself ranked fifth in the playoff standings, three points below the elimination threshold heading into the next playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bell lamented the missed opportunity to secure his spot in the Final Four, acknowledging Larson’s determined defensive maneuvers as he attempted to make a pass at the checkered flag.
The top five finishers, apart from the playoff contenders, included Kyle Busch from Richard Childress Racing, Brad Keselowski from Roush Fenway Keselowski, and Ross Chastain from Trackhouse Racing.
Seven out of the eight remaining playoff-eligible drivers secured top-10 finishes. Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron, 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr., and Denny Hamlin, along with Brad Keselowski, secured the sixth through tenth positions. However, Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney faced disqualification in post-race inspection due to the left-front shock that did not meet the specified length, further widening the gap in the standings.
The championship aspirations of Tyler Reddick and Chris Buescher appeared to be slipping away as they faced deficits of 15 and 23 points, respectively, below the elimination line. Meanwhile, Ryan Blaney found himself a considerable 56 points behind, further complicating his path to the championship.
The next race in the final playoff round that will determine the championship field is the 4EVER 400 Presented by Mobil 1 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, a 1.5-mile track.
Photo by Vanessa Markov
