Kyle Larson dominates the NASCAR Cup Collection for an emotional victory at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday within the Meals Metropolis 500.
BRISTOL, Tenn.— He did it for Jon.
Kyle Larson an Emotional Victory
For the second straight day at Bristol Motor Speedway, Kyle Larson dominated a NASCAR race and devoted the victory to his pal and PR consultant, Jon Edwards, who handed away all of the sudden throughout the week main as much as the race weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway.
On Sunday, Larson gained the Meals Metropolis 500 NASCAR Cup Collection race by overwhelmingly main 411 of 500 laps and sweeping each phases.
The victory was Larson’s second of the season, his second straight on the 0.533-mile high-banked quick monitor and the thirty first of his profession, and it got here at some point after the driving force of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet ran away with the NASCAR Xfinity Collection race at Thunder Valley.
“This one’s undoubtedly for Jon,” stated Larson, who completed second in Friday evening’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Collection race, one spot wanting sweeping the weekend. “He’s only a nice man. Profitable weekend right here. Want he was going to be right here with us to rejoice, however I do know he’s celebrating with us in spirit.
“Only a flawless race as soon as once more right here at Bristol for the 5 staff. Actually, actually good automotive. That was a number of enjoyable.”
Kyle Larson versus Denny Hamlin
Larson, who brushed the skin wall on the apex of the primary and second turns with 5 laps left—with out consequence—completed 2.250 seconds in entrance of Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, who fell one spot wanting a 3rd straight Cup victory. Hamlin’s teammate, Ty Gibbs, was 6.679 seconds again in third in a race that ran with out warning for the ultimate 235 laps.
“Nevertheless many laps of inexperienced we ran there was a number of enjoyable,” Larson stated. “I used to be fairly comfy with issues, after which Denny got here on actually sturdy there earlier than the pit cycle and form of stored the stress on from there.”
After the ultimate pit stops, Hamlin may have closed inside a second of Larson in site visitors however by no means threatened to take the lead.
“It’s a must to give that staff their due—only a dominant efficiency,” Hamlin stated. “It appeared like a reasonably flawless day for them. It appeared fairly straightforward. It was all I needed to attempt to sustain there. I’m glad we have been capable of give him a bit little bit of a run with our Progressive Toyota.
“However this weekend, we’re all interested by Jon Edwards’ household, (racing journalist) Al Pearce, (staff proprietor) Shige Hattori (all of whom handed away throughout the final eight days). We’ve misplaced a number of nice individuals in our sport during the last week, so our ideas are with them.”
“Want we may have gotten yet another spot, however I simply wished to maintain him sincere there on the finish. That was all I used to be making an attempt to do, however he was a bit an excessive amount of to deal with.”
Hamlin and Larson have completed one-two on seven events. Sunday’s race was the primary of the seven occasions Larson has come out on prime.
Opposite to sturdy indications from Saturday’s apply, Bristol’s concrete floor rubbered in, and tire put on was not the issue that almost all groups and drivers anticipated. Ryan Blaney, for example, ran 175 laps on one set of tires earlier than pitting on lap 440.
Chase Briscoe got here house fourth as JGR claimed the three positions behind Larson. Blaney ran lengthy throughout the closing green-flag run, led 48 laps after Larson pitted on lap 390 for tires and gasoline, and labored his method again to fifth on the finish.
Pole winner Alex Bowman led the primary 39 laps earlier than Larson grabbed the highest spot for the primary time. Larson went on to win the primary stage over Hamlin and the second over Bowman. Bowmand would later fall out of the race when his engine expired.
The Stage 2 victory was the 66th of Larson’s profession. The victory ties him with Martin Truex Jr for probably the most since stage racing was launched in 2017.
William Byron charged ahead to a sixth-place end after beginning twenty sixth. Ross Chastain ran seventh, adopted by Christopher Bell and AJ Allmendinger, the final driver on the lead lap. Austin Dillon was tenth, the primary driver one lap down.
William Byron now holds a 30-point benefit over second-place Denny Hamlin. Christopher Bell is in third place at -41 factors from the chief. Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott maintain the fourth and fifth place within the sequence level standings.
Up Subsequent
The NASCAR Cup Collection takes a break for Easter earlier than its subsequent race at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, April twenty seventh. The Jack Hyperlink’s 500 begin is 3 pm ET on FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The defending winner is the driving force of the No. 45 from 23XI Racing, Tyler Reddick.
