Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Championship: Larson sweeps stages, Truex top contender

RELATED: Stage 2 results

Kyle Larson continued to run the high line in dominating fashion and won Stage 2 in the Ford EcoBoost 400 Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. For Larson, it was his second stage win of the day as the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet finished ahead of Championship 4 contenders Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski.

Danica Patrick’s final race as a full-time driver for Stewart-Haas Racing did not end favorably. An accident in Turn 2 involving Patrick’s No. 10 Ford and Kasey Kahne’s No. 5 Chevrolet brought out a caution on Lap 141. Patrick’s smashed car burst into flames as it came to a stop, but she emerged from the vehicle unharmed.

RELATED: Danica’s day ends early with wreck

Truex Jr. seemed to come to life on the restart, jumping up to second place in the No. 78 Toyota. Earlier in the stage, Truex had a slow pit stop when a lug nut got caught up, and he dropped to the back of the pack among the Championship 4 drivers.

Harvick, who finished third, had a strong run and battled Larson early in the stage. That set up an intriguing clash of philosophies at the front with Larson, who preferred the high line, and Harvick, who told NBC Sports he’d stay off the high line early in the race and delivered on that promise.

Busch, who finished fourth, almost missed the entry to pit road with 39 laps left in the stage. Smoke flew from the tires of the No. 18 Toyota as it slid in Turn 4 before darting just inside the commitment line and onto pit road. Busch moved past Keselowski late in the stage, putting the No. 2 Ford at the back of the pack as the race entered the final and deciding stage.

Note: Championship 4 drivers are not awarded stage points in the season finale, but can get credited for stage wins.

RELATED: Stage 1 results

Kyle Larson took the lead from Martin Truex Jr. on Lap 13 and did not let go the rest of the way, winning Stage 1 in the Ford EcoBoost 400 Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Brad Keselowski finished second with fellow Championship 4 drivers Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. rounding out the top five.

Keselowski was the only Championship 4 driver to pit after a caution on Lap 4 when Joey Gase’s No. 83 Toyota got into the wall in Turn 1. Keselowski was dealing with an ill-handling No. 2 Ford and restarted 13th after the pit stop. The strategy worked as he moved up to third place within two laps on the fresh tires and stayed competitive throughout the stage.

Conversely, Kyle Busch restarted third and dropped back to 13th while reporting an ill-handling car. Busch moved up to 11th place before coming to pit road on Lap 39 with the rest of the Championship 4 contenders. Busch reported a vibration in the No. 18 Toyota following the pit stop but decided to stay out. Busch managed to methodically move up into the top three.

Truex Jr. grabbed the lead early from Denny Hamlin and led the first 12 laps. But after falling behind Larson, Truex reported concerns with the brakes on the No. 78 Toyota. Then, with 25 laps to go in the stage, Kevin Harvick engaged Truex in a battle for third place, with Harvick eventually taking the spot. Then, Busch passed Truex with eight laps to go.