Kyle Larson Wins at Nashville in Dominate Fashion

Mike Humphrey/AP Photo

LEBANON, TN – RIS – The hottest driver in NASCAR, one Kyle Larson continued his domination of the 2021 season by running away from the field and winning the NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway.  The last time the Cup Series raced on this speedway was 1984, hat day another Hendrick Motorsports car No. 5 won then too.  It was driven by Geoff Bodine.

He started fifth after qualifying, and quickly jumped up to the lead within the first 10 laps, then pitted when a caution came out at the end of the first stage for Chris Buescher and Justin Haley, who crashed into the outside wall when Haley’s brake rotor went down (Buescher said he hit it on the track). Larson finished in third in the first stage, which was won by Chase Elliott, then won the second stage through multiple cautions. He now leads the Cup Series in wins with four.wins

Larson wasn’t so sure he was dominant.  When asked he commented, “It was a great day.  We never had to run behind people, so I don’t know.”

The winner was correct on that point.  After Chase Elliott won the first stage, it was all Larson, all the time, after that.  He was hardly challenged and lead a total of 2814 of the 300 laps run.  There were 11 cautions that totaled 60 laps.

t was the third consecutive points series race victory and fourth overall, including last week's All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway, for the 28-year-old driver from Elk Grove, California. It was Larson's 10th career victory.

Ross Chastain was second, William Byron third, Aric Almirola, who was on the pole, fourth and Kevin Harvick fifth.  Larson’s Margin of victory was 4.335 seconds, unheard of in today’s Cup Series.  He regularly built up leads of five and sex seconds in the final laps.

While Larson dominated, leading 264 of 300 laps, it wasn't all smooth sailing. Debris got stuck on his front grill on Lap 246, which threatened his lead because his engine could have overheated.  Larson, however, caught up to J.J. Yeley, who was a lap down, and drafted off him, which blew the debris off his grill.

Several drivers had brake issues on the sizzling hot track. By staying out front and out of the congestion for most of the race, Larson avoided having to brake as much and had no significant issues.

Unofficial Results: Inaugural Ally 400 - June 20, 2021, Nashville Superspeedway - 1.33 - Mile Concrete

Fin, Str, Driver, Car, Team, Laps, St1, St2, Tms Led, Laps Led, Playoff Pts, Pts, Status
1) 5, Kyle Larson, No. 5, Valvoline Chevrolet, 300, 3, 1, 6, 264, 6, 58, Running
2) 19, Ross Chastain, No. 42, Clover Chevrolet, 300, , , 1, 4, , 35, Running
3) 4, William Byron, No. 24, Liberty University Chevrolet, 300, , 4, , , , 41, Running
4) 1, Aric Almirola, No. 10, Smithfield Ford, 300, , 9, 1, 1, , 35, Running
5) 12, Kevin Harvick, No. 4, Grave Digger Ford, 300, , 10, , , , 33, Running
6) 14, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47, Kroger/Nature Valley Chevrolet, 300, 7, 8, , , , 38, Running
7) 22, Daniel Suarez, No. 99, Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet, 300, 4, , , , , 37, Running
8) 30, Kurt Busch, No. 1, Monster Energy Chevrolet, 300, 2, , 1, 3, , 38, Running
9) 25, Christopher Bell, No. 20, DEWALT Toyota, 300, , , , , , 28, Running
10) 3, Joey Logano, No. 22, Shell Pennzoil Ford, 300, 9, , , , , 29, Running
11) 2, Kyle Busch, No. 18, Pedigree Toyota, 300, 5, 5, 3, 10, , 38, Running
12) 28, Austin Dillon, No. 3, Get Bioethanol Chevrolet, 300, 6, 2, , , , 39, Running
13) 6, Chase Elliott, No. 9, NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 300, 1, 7, 1, 13, 1, 38, Running
14) 29, Ryan Newman, No. 6, Planters Ford, 300, , , , , , 23, Running
15) 8, Alex Bowman, No. 48, Ally Neon Lights Chevrolet, 300, , , , , , 22, Running
16) 24, Corey LaJoie, No. 7, Pryor & Lee Chevrolet, 300, , , , , , 21, Running
17) 23, Michael McDowell, No. 34, Love's Travel Stops Ford, 300, , , , , , 20, Running
18) 18, Anthony Alfredo #, No. 38, Speedco Ford, 300, , , , , , 19, Running
19) 26, Tyler Reddick, No. 8, Quartz Hill Records Chevrolet, 300, , , , , , 18, Running
20) 9, Erik Jones, No. 43, Black Entrepreneur Initiative Chevrolet, 300, , , , , , 17, Running
21) 21, Bubba Wallace, No. 23, DoorDash/PetSmart Toyota, 299, , , , , , 16, Running
22) 13, Denny Hamlin, No. 11, FedEx Express Toyota, 299, , 6, , , , 20, Running
23) 35, Martin Truex Jr., No. 19, Bass Pro Toyota, 299, , , , , , 14, Running
24) 15, Brad Keselowski, No. 2, Dent Wizard Ford, 299, 8, , , , , 16, Running
25) 11, Matt DiBenedetto, No. 21, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 298, 10, , , , , 13, Running
26) 36, Garrett Smithley(i), No. 53, Smart Sanitizer Chevrolet, 298, , , , , , 0, Running
27) 34, Josh Bilicki, No. 52, Insurance King Ford, 298, , , , , , 10, Running
28) 32, JJ Yeley(i), No. 51, Nurtec ODT Chevrolet, 298, , , , , , 0, Running
29) 31, BJ McLeod(i), No. 78, Surface Sunscreen/Koolbox ICE Ford, 295, , , , , , 0, Running
30) 37, Joey Gase(i), No. 15, Tennessee Donor Services/Donate Life Chevrolet, 295, , , , , , 0, Running
31) 7, Cole Custer, No. 41, Dixie Vodka Tony's Tea Ford, 252, , , , , , 6, Running
32) 16, Chase Briscoe #, No. 14, HighPoint.com/Thorlabs Ford, 227, , 3, 1, 5, , 13, Accident
33) 20, * Ryan Preece, No. 37, Entenmann's Chevrolet, 197, , , , , , 4, Brakes
34) 33, * Chad Finchum(i), No. 66, Smithbilt Homes Toyota, 157, , , , , , 0, Rear End
35) 38, * David Starr(i), No. 13, Bob Menery Toyota, 126, , , , , , 0, Brakes
36) 27, Justin Haley(i), No. 77, Diamond Creek Water Chevrolet, 79, , , , , , 0, Accident
37) 17, Chris Buescher, No. 17, Fifth Third Bank Ford, 77, , , , , , 1, Accident
38) 10, Ryan Blaney, No. 12, Menards/Duracell Ford, 53, , , , , , 1, Accident
39) 39, Quin Houff, No. 00, Mane 'n Tail/Spirit Untamed Chevrolet, 0, , , , , , 1, Accident
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 30 Mins, 23 Secs.
Race Length: 300 Laps, 399. Miles
Average Speed: 113.792 MPH
Margin of Victory: 4.335 Seconds

Stage 1 Top 10: 9, 1, 5, 99, 18, 3, 47, 2, 22, 21
Stage 2 Top 10: 5, 3, 14, 24, 18, 11, 9, 47, 10, 4

Comments: Kyle Larson won the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, his 10th NASCAR Cup Series victory.

Prior to the start the following cars dropped to the rear of the field under penalty for the reason indicated: No. 00, No. 24, No. 43(unapproved adjustments).

Caution Flags: 11 for 60 laps;
Laps: 2-5 (No. 00 Incident Turn 1 [None]);
47-52 (No. 8 Spin Turn 4 [21]);
56-61 (No. 12 Incident Turn 2 [37]);
79-85 (No. 17, No. 77 Incident Turn 2 [8]);
92-97 (Stage 1 Conclusion [6]);
133-138 (No. 23 Spin Turn 2 [51]);
174-180 (Debris on track [51]);
187-190 (Stage 2 Conclusion [53]);
198-202 (No. 37 Spin Turn 2 [52]);
219-222 (No. 23 Spin Frontstretch [52]);
228-232 (No. 14 Incident Turn 4 [21]).

Lead Changes: 14 among 7 drivers;
A. Almirola 0;
K. Busch 1-5;
K. Larson 6-45;
K. Busch 46-48;
A. Almirola 49;
K. Busch 50-53;
K. Larson 54-79;
C. Elliott 80-92;
K. Larson 93-137;
K. Busch 138;
K. Larson 139-176;
C. Briscoe # 177-181;
K. Larson 182-218;
R. Chastain 219-222;
K. Larson 223-300.

Busch Pole Award:  Aric Almirola, No. 10 161.992 mph
Sunoco Rookie of the Race:  Anthony Alfredo, No. 38