Thrills and Triumphs: Kyle Larson Reigns Victorious in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Photos Courtesy of Rozell Photography

The Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway delivered a captivating display of NASCAR action, with each lap presenting its own unique challenges and triumphs for the drivers and teams. From the outset, the race was marked by unexpected twists and turns that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

Early on, Zane Smith grappled with possible suspension damage on lap 3, setting the tone for a day filled with adversity. Christopher Bell's hopes were dashed on lap 10 when a flat rear right tire forced an unscheduled pit stop, while Chris Buescher's promising run came to a sudden halt on lap 27 as tire and hub issues put him out of contention and prompted a red flag for safety wall repairs.

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As the race resumed, Daniel Suarez seized the lead on lap 36, showcasing his prowess on the track alongside Michael McDowell. However, William Byron faced a setback on lap 38 when a tarp flew out and covered his grill, causing his engine temperature to skyrocket and necessitating an unplanned pit stop.

Kyle Larson emerged as a dominant force, overtaking Kyle Busch for the lead on lap 61 and maintaining his position to secure victory in Stage 1 on lap 80. Despite challenges faced by drivers like Tyler Reddick, who dropped from second to 16th after a pit mishap on lap 84, the race continued to deliver thrilling moments.

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Larson continued to assert his dominance, battling with Denny Hamlin for the lead on lap 105 and ultimately securing victory in Stage 2 on lap 165. Bubba Wallace's valiant effort to overcome setbacks, including being three laps down, showcased the resilience of the drivers on the track.

Ross Chasten was down 1 lap on Lap 120 after speeding entering the pits and took the wave around during Lap 156 caution by Christopher Bell spinning, which did not allow him to take a pit stop during the caution. He was able to finish in 4th place after fighting all the way through the field and at one point in 2nd fighting for the lead late in the stage.

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In the final lap, Larson successfully fended off Tyler Reddick's late charge to claim victory in the Pennzoil 400, capping off an eventful day of racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

After the race Tyler Reddick was really upset that he couldn’t catch Kyle Larson for the win saying, “I won’t get over this.” Reddick pointed out that, “I really fought bad air trying to catch him. The winds really turned things up a lot more and I just fought bad air the entire time.

Kyle Larson after the race describe the year so far, “ We did really well at Daytona, until we didn’t and then we did really well at Atlanta, until we didn’t. So, today things went really well and we were able to finish it off and I am really excited about how well our team is competing right now.”

Photos Courtesy of Rozell Photography

This win is Kyle Larsons 24th in 334 races in his career. This is first win and top 10 this year. Larson has won 3 races and 2 in a row at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after winning last October in the Las Vegas playoff race. With the win and points of winning all stages of the race Larson takes the point standings lead as will by 8 points over Ryan Blaney.

There were 6 cautions on the day and 24 lead changes. Time of race 3 hours, 0 mins, and 25 seconds.The average speed on the day with 133.192 mph and the margin of victory was 0.441 seconds.

Photos Courtesy of Rozell Photography

Stage 1 Top 10: 5 Kyle Larson, 45 Tyler Reddick, 19 Martin Truex Jr, 8 Kyle Busch, 11 Denny Hamlin, 54 Ty Biggs, 7 Corey LaJoie, 1 Ross Chastain, 2 Austin Cindric, 20 Christopher Bell

Stage 2 Top 10: 5 Kyle Larson, 45 Tyler Reddick, 11 Denny Hamlin, 12 Ryan Blaney, 19 Martin Truex Jr, 9 Chase Elliott, 3 Austin Dillon, 48 Alex Bowman, 22 Joey Logano, 43 Erik Jones

Finish Top 10: 5 Kyle Larson, 45 Tyler Reddick, 12 Ryan Blaney, 1 Ross Chastain, 54 Ty Gibbs, 10 Noah Gragson, 19 Martin Truex Jr, 11 Denny Hamlin, 22 Joey Logano, 24 William Byron

Next race is March 10th 2024 at Phoenix Raceway

John Hunter Nemechek Dominates LiUNA! 300

In the aftermath of his impressive victory at the LiUNA! 300, John Hunter Nemechek reflected on the challenges and triumphs of the race. "I always run really well here, from truck and now with Xfinity, but today there were a lot of different elements we had to deal with today," Nemechek remarked, highlighting the various factors that made this race particularly demanding. "The bumps in 2 and 3, the wind, it took a lot more than usually for all of us to compete out here," he added, acknowledging the complexities of navigating the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

When asked about the pivotal moment when he sensed his opportunity for victory, Nemechek's confidence in his team shone through. "When the car rolled out on the track two days ago. I really felt we were ready for this race and our team was prepared and ready," Nemechek stated. "We made all the adjustments, we stayed clean, and we were able to pull out the win," he concluded, underscoring the meticulous preparation and execution that propelled him to success.

Nemechek also expressed gratitude for the exceptional performance of his crew, emphasizing their experience and cohesion. "I have a crew that has been together for a while, only one new crew member, they are all veterans and they were exceptional as always today," he affirmed, acknowledging the pivotal role his team played in securing the victory.

Nemechek's journey to victory was marked by consistent excellence. Despite finishing in 2nd place in both the first and second stages, he demonstrated remarkable resilience, ultimately clinching the win. Throughout the race, Nemechek led an impressive 99 laps, firmly establishing his dominance on the track.

The race also witnessed notable performances from other drivers, adding layers of excitement to the competition. Cole Custer, posting his fifth top-10 finish in eight races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, underscored his prowess as a formidable contender. Chandler Smith, who showcased his skill by winning both stages, faced traction issues in the third stage but displayed remarkable tenacity, battling back to secure a commendable 2nd place finish.

Among the rising stars of the Xfinity series, Hailie Keegan delivered a noteworthy performance, finishing in 15th place. Keegan's achievement was particularly significant as she is in her rookie season and had recently announced her engagement, adding a personal touch to her racing journey.

As the season progresses, the competition intensifies, with Austin Hill currently leading the point standings by 22 points over Chandler Smith. With the momentum from his victory at Las Vegas, Nemechek has firmly established himself as a contender to watch, setting the stage for an electrifying season ahead.

Looking forward, all eyes are on the upcoming race at Phoenix, where drivers will once again take to the track in pursuit of glory.

Derek Kraus Gets NASCAR Cup Debut at Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas

What Up Sports has been closely tracking Derek Kraus's journey since his debut with Bill MacAnally Racing in Roseville, CA, where he clinched the ARCA West Series championship in 2019. After making strides in the Craftsman Truck and Xfinity series, Derek secures a six-race contract with Kaulig Racing, debuting in the #16 car this weekend at the Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Speedway. Ahead of practice and qualifying, we caught up with Derek for an exclusive interview. Watch the video below for more insights.