MARTINSVILLE, Va. — For the second time in three races, Kyle Larson parked his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in victory lane.
Larson got around Team Penske’s Joey Logano with 29 laps to go, scampering away from the field in the closing laps to win the Noco 400 at Martinsville Speedway.
The win was HMS’ 28th win at the historic .526-mile oval, the most by any team in NASCAR Cup Series history. It was also Larson’s 21st career win, tying NASCAR Hall of Famers Bobby Labonte and Benny Parsons for 38th on the Cup Series all-time wins list.
“Just huge congratulations to this whole 5 team and Hendrick Motorsports. I feel like Cliff (Daniels, crew chief) and everybody did a great job all day on pit road making the right calls, having great pit stops, and then it all kind of worked out for me there at the end,” Larson said.
“We had a great car. That was the best my car had been I think being able to get out front and manage.
“But, yeah, I had never ever would have thought that I would win here at Martinsville. This place has been so tough on me. Just does not suit my driving style at all.
“I like to charge the center. I like to roll momentum, and that’s just not what this place is like.
“But thanks to Cliff Daniels and everybody for making me feel like I know what I’m doing sometimes around here. So I just can’t believe it,” Larson continued.
Larson celebrates in victory lane with his kids. (HHP/Chris Owens)
“I’m glad my family is here too, Katelyn and the kids. I’m sure they’re trying to get down here to the infield, but this is amazing.
“I honestly have never thought I would win here so I don’t have a spot picked out either for the clock, so I’ll have to make some space for sure.”
Finishing runner-up was Logano, who went down a lap twice throughout the day. Logano was forced to start at the rear of the field due to an unapproved adjustment. It was Logano’s third top five of the season.
Behind Logano, Martin Truex Jr. notched his second consecutive top 10 finish in third. Truex would be followed by teammate Denny Hamlin in fourth and Chase Briscoe rounding out the top-five.
In his first race back from a leg injury, Chase Elliott persevered after starting 24th to finish 10th.
Key Points
Stage One went caution-free, with polesitter Ryan Preece dominating the opening segment. Preece led all 80 laps to score his first career stage win.
It was a struggle for Team Penske early on, with Logano and Austin Cindric both going down a lap. Last year’s wall-ride hero at Martinsville, Ross Chastain, narrowly escaped going a lap down as Preece took the green and white checkered flag.
Stage Two began with Preece leading, then gapping the field.
On lap 132, Harrison Burton got spun by Legacy Motor Club’s Erik Jones, bringing out the first non-stage caution flag of the afternoon.
The front runners would all pit, with Preece winning the race off pit road. However, the 32-year-old got caught for speeding, along with Bubba Wallace and Truex. All three drivers would be sent to the rear of the field.
Preece would go on to finish a disappointing 15th, after leading the first 135 laps.
After nearly going a lap down early on, Chastain would lead after electing to stay out under caution.
Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick would eventually surge to the front, notching the Stage Two win.
Pit stops would see Harvick’s teammate Briscoe take the point, heading for Stage Three.
Hamlin took the lead away from Briscoe on lap 257, allowing the driver of the No. 11 to set sail.
After getting the free pass during the first stage, Logano would go down a lap on lap 272.
The race’s final caution came on lap 342, after J.J. Yeley locked up the brakes and hit the turn three wall.
Strategy would come into play during the final round of pit stops under caution.
While Larson and Daniel Suarez elected for two tires to be the first off pit road, Logano, Hamlin, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Aric Almirola all stayed out.
Harvick’s day turned south when a tire went down following his pit stop, with the lug nut flying off the wheel during the caution laps. The driver of the No. 4 finished 20th.
The final restart saw Logano shoot out to the lead.
However, Larson would chase down the driver of the No. 22, taking the position to earn the win.
Keyword: Larson Wins Martinsville, Scores Second Win In Three Races