STAGE 2
Kyle Larson swept the opening two stages in Sunday's Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. After dominating Stage 1 by leading 89 of 100 laps, Larson had to rally to win Stage 2.
The driver of the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet hung back as leader Martin Truex Jr. and second-place Kevin Harvick battled for the lead over a compelling stretch of 15 laps. Then he powered past both of them, swooping into the point position on Lap 160 and holding on to take the green/white checkered flag after Lap 200.
Larson and the No. 42 team employed an alternate pit strategy, electing to stay out for the remainder of Stage 2 following pit stops on Lap 127. It paid off in the form of his third stage win of the season.
PHOTOS: Paint schemes, every angle
Team Penske drivers Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano finished second and third, respectively, with Chase Elliott and Erik Jones rounding out the top 10.
Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick completed the top 10 in Stage 2.
Larson beat Austin Dillon to the start/finish line in a photo finish, too, putting Dillon a lap down. Dillon got his lap back by being the beneficiary of the free pass, but that kept Truex Jr. one lap down.
MORE: Stage 2 results
| Finish |
Driver |
Team |
Race Points |
| 1 |
Kyle Larson |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
10 |
| 2 |
Brad Keselowski |
Team Penske |
9 |
| 3 |
Joey Logano |
Team Penske |
8 |
| 4 |
Chase Elliott |
Hendrick Motorsports |
7 |
| 5 |
Erik Jones |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
6 |
| 6 |
Kurt Busch |
Stewart-Haas Racing |
5 |
| 7 |
Ryan Newman |
Richard Childress Racing |
4 |
| 8 |
Kyle Busch |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
3 |
| 9 |
Jamie McMurray |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
2 |
| 10 |
Kevin Harvick |
Stewart-Haas Racing |
1 |
• • •
STAGE 1
Kyle Larson rode the high line around 1.366-mile Darlington Raceway in Sunday's opening 100-lap stage of the Bojangles' Southern 500, leading 89 laps to earn his second stage win of 2018.
Larson started second behind Busch Pole Award winner Denny Hamlin and fell in behind the No. 11 Toyota at the drop of the green, but ultimately chased down and passed last year's race winner.
MORE: Full Stage 1 results
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Erik Jones finished second in Stage 1 after qualifying seventh, followed by Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski to complete the top five.
Kevin Harvick, Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott completed the top 10 to earn race points.
Sunday's race, one of the most iconic on the NASCAR circuit, also is the annual throwback weekend, so plenty of cars are sporting throwback themes.
PHOTOS: Paint schemes, every angle
| Finish |
Driver |
Team |
Race Points |
| 1 |
Kyle Larson |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
10 |
| 2 |
Erik Jones |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
9 |
| 3 |
Martin Truex Jr. |
Furniture Row Racing |
8 |
| 4 |
Joey Logano |
Team Penske |
7 |
| 5 |
Brad Keselowski |
Team Penske |
6 |
| 6 |
Kevin Harvick |
Stewart-Haas Racing |
5 |
| 7 |
Denny Hamlin |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
4 |
| 8 |
Kurt Busch |
Stewart-Haas Racing |
3 |
| 9 |
Kyle Busch |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
2 |
| 10 |
Chase Elliott |
Hendrick Motorsports |
1 |