Kyle Larson salvaged a disastrous start at Martinsville to close in on his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship. Starting third, Larson's Chevrolet plummeted early due to faulty tactics. His team gambled by keeping him on track while most pitted for fresh tires after 75 laps.
The strategy backfired as the stage stayed green until lap 130, leaving Larson 23rd and a lap down. He finished ninth, losing only six points off his massive lead. Larson leads by 67 points over Christopher Bell (10th at Martinsville) and needs only nine points at Homestead-Miami Speedway to capture the title.
William Byron won for the first time since last year at Martinsville, and Chase Elliott made it a Hendrick Motorsports top-two sweep. Ty Gibbs finished third. Larson will be a heavy favorite to deliver a record 16th championship for Hendrick, ranking third in team history behind Jeff Gordon (four titles) and Jimmie Johnson (seven).
Though he failed to clinch before the finale, Larson plans to lock up the title early with strong first stages at the 1.5-mile oval. The NASCAR Cup Series concludes its season at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the first time in seven years.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing