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Kyle Larson secured his spot in the NASCAR Cup Championship 4 with a dominant win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Larson, driving the No. 5 car for Team Hendrick, showcased his skills and found the perfect balance on his car after narrowly avoiding a catastrophe in Stage 2. This victory solidifies Larson's position as a top contender for the NASCAR Cup title. The Round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs has begun, and Larson's impressive performance sets the stage for an exciting championship battle.
A dominant day led to a narrow win for @KyleLarsonRacin. After avoiding a near-catastrophe in Stage 2, Larson and the No. 5 @TeamHendrick group found the balance on their car, and Larson is onto the #NASCAR Cup #Championship4 with a win at Las Vegas: https://t.co/W76QomMZw6
Larson is first off pit road .. Larson Keselowski Bell Chastain Hamlin Byron Blaney
Ryan Blaney has passed Hamlin and Chastain for P4. Bell-Keselowski-Larson-Blaney-Hamlin now. 60 laps remaining.
So now after Chastain had a moment, the running order is Bell-Keselowski-Larson-Hamlin-Chastain-Blaney. 64 to go.
Chastain was challenging Bell for the lead but now Larson and Keselowski, battling for third, are nearly to Chastain.
Every time Ross Chastain closes on Christopher Bell, Bell is able to do enough to take his lane away and get some distance back. Keselowski and Larson are lurking, with a trio of Hamlin-Byron-Blaney behind them. 76 laps to go.
Back to green with 96 laps remaining. Bell Chastain Larson Keselowski Hamlin the top 5
Back to green...96 laps to decide this Las Vegas race.
Back to green with 96 to go
Off pit road: Bell, Chastain, Larson, Keselowski, Hamlin, McDowell (two tires), Byron, Busch, Blaney, Reddick. #NASCAR | #NASCARPlayoffs
Bell wins the race off pit road. Chastain, Larson, Keselowski, Hamlin and McDowell (+15, 2 tires) behind him. Should be about 95 laps to go in the race when we restart @LVMotorSpeedway.
Bell off pit road first, then Chastain Larson Keselowski Hamlin McDowell Byron
Bell and Chastain 1-2 off pit road. Larson third.
Kyle Larson wins Stage 2 as well! #NASCARPlayoffs | NBC https://t.co/UiEL2QtSGg
Stage 2 Results - Cup Las Vegas 1-Larson 2-Chastain 3-Bell 4-Hamlin 5-Keselowski 6-Byron 7-Busch 8-Blaney 9-Reddick 10-Wallace #NASCAR
Kyle Larson wins Stage 2
Caution out for the end of stage 2. Larson wins it. Then Chastain Bell Hamlin Keselowski Byron Buescher Blaney Reddick Wallace.
Kyle Larson wins Stage 2, his seventh stage victory of the season. #NASCAR
.@KyleLarsonRacin wins Stage 2
3 laps remaining in stage 2. Larson ahead of Chastain by 1 second
Larson is the leader. 9 laps to go in the stage.
10 to go in stage 2. Larson takes the lead from Keselowski.
New leader: Kyle Larson passes Brad Keselowski. 10 to go in Stage 2.
Restart coming with 16 laps to go in Stage 2: Keselowski-Byron front row, then Logano-Busch, Harvick-Larson, Hamlin-Bell, Buescher-Blaney, Chastain-Truex, Almirola-Reddick. All playoff drivers in top 13.
Leaders pit. Off pit road: Keselowski Byron Buescher Logano Harvick, all with 2 tires.
Brad Keselowski, William Byron, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick all took two tires. Kyle Larson was the first driver off pit road on four tires
Two tires for Keselowski, Byron, Busch Logano and Harvick .. then Larson is first car on four .... 19 laps left in the stage.
Larson got into the wall.
In Vegas, 131 of 267 laps complete. Keselowski leads a slew of #NASCARPlayoffs drivers: Larson, Byron, Bell, Hamlin, Buescher and Blaney -- then Chastain, Busch and Bowman complete the top 10. Truex up to P11 with Reddick P12. Truex restarted P16, is told top-five lap times.
Keselowski's lead over Larson is a half second with 130 laps complete.
William Byron back up to P3 after fading earlier. Passes Bell. Now it's Keselowski-Larson-Byron-Bell-Hamlin-Buscher-Blaney. 40 to go in Stage 2.
Back to green on lap 118
Restart coming with 48 laps to go in Stage 2. Can the whole field make it that long on these tires? Guess we'll find out. Keselowski-Larson-Bell-Hamlin-Byron are top five. All playoff drivers in top seven except for Reddick P12 and Truex P15.
Both Bell and Truex pit on Lap 39, several laps after most of the other leaders, and lose ground. Larson assumes P1 by a large margin, around a straightaway, over the @JoeGibbsRacing Toyotas.
After stops, Kyle Larson has a 5.6-second lead on Christopher Bell. Bell and Truex lost a bunch of time by pitting six laps later than most of the field. #NASCAR
What a huge difference for Larson to pit early. He was behind Bell and Truex, now up by 5.2 seconds.
Bell and Truex pit on Lap 38, 5-6 laps after some of the others.
New leader: After giving up P1 on Lap 3, Christopher Bell retakes the top spot over Kyle Larson. Martin Truex Jr. still a close third. Lap 30.
After 20 laps, it's Larson-Bell-Truex fairly close, then a big gap to Buescher and another big gap to Byron, then Busch/Bubba/Blaney.
Kyle Larson's lead is noticeably shrinking. Christopher Bell and Martin Truex Jr. gaining ground on the leader. Lap 15.
The Round of 8 starts now! #NASCARPlayoffs Green flag 🟢 for the #NASCAR Cup race at @LVMotorSpeedway. 🎥 @NASCARonNBC https://t.co/7qc15rhoE4
Kyle Larson takes the lead two-and-a-half laps in. #NASCAR
Green flag from Las Vegas — and new leader on Lap 3: Kyle Larson. #NASCAR
Larson takes the lead from Bell on Lap 3.
Larson to the lead.
New leader: Kyle Larson passes Christopher Bell on Lap 3.
Green flag for the 267 laps of #NASCAR Cup Series action at Las Vegas Motor Speedway! (NBC)
GREEN FLAG for #NASCAR Cup at @LVMotorSpeedway
Green flag at Las Vegas Motor Speedway! The battle for the first Championship 4 spot is underway. #NASCARPlayoffs