Larson wins at Las Vegas to keep Chevrolet undefeated this season
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kyle Larson won his second consecutive race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday to keep keep Chevrolet undefeated and give Hendrick Motorsports its second victory in the first three NASCAR Cup Series races of the season.
Larson won for the third time in his career at Las Vegas, where in 2021 he got his first win driving for Hendrick following a nearly yearlong suspension in 2020. Larson also won in the No. 5 Chevy at Las Vegas last October in the playoffs.
Larson held off Tyler Reddick for his 24th career Cup victory. In a Toyota for 23XI Racing, Reddick chased Larson for the final several laps but could never find enough room to make a move for the pass.
Chevrolet also has wins this year by Larson teammate William Byron in the Daytona 500 and Daniel Suarez last week at Atlanta for Trackhouse Racing. Chevrolet has won eight of nine national series races to open the year.
Reigning NASCAR champion Ryan Blaney was third for Team Penske in a Ford, followed by Trackhouse driver Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing and Las Vegas native Noah Gragson was sixth in his best finish since joining Stewart-Haas Racing.
Martin Truex Jr. for JGR was seventh, followed by teammate Denny Hamlin, Penske driver and pole-sitter Joey Logano and Byron. Suarez, last week's winner, was 11th.
Larson swept all three stages and led 181 of the 267 laps.
BUESCHER PENALTY TO COME
Chris Buescher and RFK Racing are facing penalties after a tire fell off Buescher's Ford early in the race.
“We lost the nut and lost half the wheel. I think the tire stayed up under the fender," Buescher said. "It looks like the nut came off and something in the suspension actually cut the wheel in half.
The penalty will be the suspension of two crew members from Buescher's team for the next two races.
UP NEXT
NASCAR goes next week to Phoenix Raceway, where Byron is the defending race winner. Chastain won in November on the day Blaney won his first Cup title.
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing