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Cup Series: Larson dominates Bristol, denies Hamlin third consecutive victory

Written by Sean McKean


Credit: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images
Credit: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images

Leading 80% of the race, Kyle Larson took his second Cup victory of the season at Bristol. It was Larson’s second victory in a row at Bristol. 


As it unfolded


During practice and qualifying, tyre wear was a massive problem, with the Goodyears completely chording on a 25-lap run. This directly mirrored the events of last year’s spring race, wherein tyres began falling off and even shredding after 50 laps.


Alex Bowman won the pole and led the way off the start, jumping ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Bowman didn’t pull away, as everyone remained at a slower pace to conserve tyres.


After 40 laps, many drivers lost patience and started picking it up, noticing that tyre wear wouldn’t be a concern as what was once thought. This saw Kyle Larson take the lead on Lap 41 and Justin Haley move into the top three. 


Larson won the first stage uncontested, followed by Denny Hamlin and Justin Haley.


Stage 1 Results:

  1. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)

  2. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  3. No. 7 - Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports)

  4. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)

  5. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)

  6. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  7. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

  8. No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak Motorsports)

  9. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  10. No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing)


All drivers took to the pits during the break. The top five from stage one remained the same.


Larson led the way on Lap 143. 


The first caution for cause came out on Lap 178. Coming into Turn 1, Shane van Gisbergen tried getting to the inside of Cody Ware, sending them both around into the wall. Van Gisbergen drove away, but this allowed Carson Hocevar to move into third, as the incident occurred right in front of Denny Hamlin.


Everybody from eighth on back went to pit road, including Brad Keselowski and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. In this cycle, John Hunter Nemechek lost a wheel. 


Larson led the field on Lap 189. He remained there uncontested to win stage two, followed by Alex Bowman and Christopher Bell.


Stage 2 Results:

  1. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)

  2. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)

  3. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  4. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)

  5. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  6. No. 7 - Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports)

  7. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  8. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

  9. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  10. No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)


Everybody elected to pit under the caution.


Larson again led the way on Lap 266. 


Todd Gilliland came to pit road with an issue on Lap 300. During this, Alex Bowman started suffering from an engine issue. This sent Bowman out of the top 20 and ultimately out of the race.


Green flag stops began on Lap 357, which held significance as this would be the last of the day. Carson Hocevar had a notably slow pit stop, dropping him out of the top five. Larson remained as leader followed by Hamlin and Ty Gibbs.


Larson held on to take a dominant victory at Bristol – a direct follow-up of his dominant Xfinity win yesterday. 


Provisional Results:

  1. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)

  2. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  3. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  4. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  5. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

  6. No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)

  7. No. 1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)

  8. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  9. No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing) [FL]

  10. No. 3 - Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing) +1 lap

  11. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports) +1 lap

  12. No. 21 - Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing) +1 lap

  13. No. 7 - Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports) +1 lap

  14. No. 8 - Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing) +1 lap

  15. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) +1 lap

  16. No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing) +2 laps

  17. No. 2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske) +2 laps

  18. No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing) +2 laps

  19. No. 23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing) +2 laps

  20. No. 60 - Ryan Preece (RFK Racing) +2 laps

  21. No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club) +2 laps

  22. No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak Motorsports) +2 laps

  23. No. 4 - Noah Gragson (Front Row Motorsports) +2 laps

  24. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske) +3 laps

  25. No. 17 - Chris Buescher (RFK Racing) +3 laps

  26. No. 43 - Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club) +3 laps

  27. No. 38 - Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports) +3 laps

  28. No. 35 - Riley Herbst (23XI Racing) +4 laps

  29. No. 41 - Cole Custer (Haas Factory Team) +5 laps

  30. No. 71 - Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports) +5 laps

  31. No. 33 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing) +5 laps

  32. No. 10 - Ty Dillon (Kaulig Racing) +6 laps

  33. No. 99 - Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing) +6 laps

  34. No. 01 - Corey Lajoie (Rick Ware Racing) +6 laps

  35. No. 34 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports) +7 laps

  36. No. 51 - Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing) +7 laps

  37. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports) [DNF]

  38. No. 88 - Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing) [DNF]

  39. No. 66 - Josh Bilicki (Garage 66) [DNF]

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