{"id":28115,"date":"2019-10-06T19:02:42","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T00:02:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=28115"},"modified":"2019-10-06T19:05:33","modified_gmt":"2019-10-07T00:05:33","slug":"kyle-larson-wins-sundays-monster-energy-cup-series-race-at-dover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2019\/10\/06\/kyle-larson-wins-sundays-monster-energy-cup-series-race-at-dover\/","title":{"rendered":"Kyle Larson wins Sunday\u2019s Monster Energy Cup Series race at Dover"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Clover Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway on October 06, 2019 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Matt Sullivan\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

Kyle Larson<\/strong> celebrated his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series<\/a> victory in two years Sunday at Dover (Del.) International Speedway, taking the checkered flag in the Drydene 400 by a convincing 1.578-seconds over Martin Truex Jr. and securing himself and his Chip Ganassi Racing team their first ever berth in the upcoming Playoff Round of 8.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Clover Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway on October 06, 2019 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Matt Sullivan\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Larson\u2019s friend and polesitter Denny Hamlin finished fifth after leading a race best 218 laps. But perhaps the two golf buddies would agree, on this Sunday, Larson\u2019s long game was just a bit better.<\/p>\n

Larson, who started alongside Hamlin on the front row, took the race lead on a fast pit stop by his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet team during the Stage 2 break, and pulled out to a five, then six-second advantage on the field \u2013 first on Hamlin then on Truex, a contender all afternoon. Truex won Stage 2 and led 15 laps but a slight pit stop miscue put the 2017 Cup champion out of the pits sixth on that stage stop instead of with the lead.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the first stage I kind of changed my driving style up and I felt like I made the car better at the same time and it really benefitted our long runs,\u2019\u2019 said Larson, who led 154 laps en route to his sixth career \u2013 and first Playoff victory. \u201cThat\u2019s as good as I\u2019ve ever been around cutting the bottom here. Just a great combination here. Good to be fast in practice and then be good again in the race and get the win.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Clover Chevrolet, celebrates winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway on October 06, 2019 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Chris Trotman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThis is unbelievable,\u2019\u2019 he continued, motioning toward the track\u2019s front grandstands in gratitude.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to win a Cup race here. I\u2019ve been close a number of times, so to get a Golden Monster (trophy) is going to be pretty sweet.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Larson and Truex\u2019s fellow playoff contenders Alex Bowman, Kevin Harvick and Hamlin rounded out the Top-5 on Sunday. Regular season champion Kyle Busch, who started 18th \u2013 lowest on the grid of the 12 Playoff drivers rallied from an early-race pit road penalty to finish sixth.<\/p>\n

Heading to the second race of the Playoffs\u2019 three-race Round 2, Larson\u2019s victory puts him atop the standings with a 500-mile race at the historic Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway next week. Truex\u2019s runner-up finish puts him atop the points \u2013 15 points ahead of his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Hamlin. Busch\u2019s rally puts the regular season champ fourth in the points standings \u2013 tied with Hamlin.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Clover Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway on October 06, 2019 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe were catching him at the end, got closed, just unfortunate there,\u2019\u2019 Truex said. \u201cWe win and lose as a team and the guys will clean it up for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cEvery week is about getting most points you can, so a positive day for us.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Positive would be an understatement for Larson, who celebrated in victory lane for the first time in 75 races hoisting Dover\u2019s special Golden trophy \u2013 specially designed to commemorate the track\u2019s 100th Cup Series race. Larson has been consistently good at Dover throughout his six-year Cup career, the 27-year old Californian earning a pair of runner-up finishes previously. He was third there in this Spring\u2019s race \u2013 a race won by Truex.<\/p>\n

Hamlin, who won the pole position by a mere .003-seconds over Larson, looked strong early but radioed to his team with 130 laps remaining that he was worried about his car\u2019s engine. At the time, however, he was running fastest among the field and maintaining a nearly 2-second advantage over third place. With about 60 laps to go, Truex got around Hamlin.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Clover Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway on October 06, 2019 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Chris Trotman\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Plenty of lapped traffic put Truex in position to perhaps make a move toward Larson. Twice the traffic cut Larson\u2019s leads from more than 5-seconds to under 2-seconds.<\/p>\n

Among the other Playoff-eligible drivers, Clint Bowyer rallied to a 10th place finish, one position ahead of 2012 Cup champion Brad Keselowski, who was the only driver to score Top-5 finishes in all three opening round races. William Byron was 13th.<\/p>\n

It was a tough day for several other Playoff drivers. Ryan Blaney, who ran Top-10 much of the afternoon, pit on Lap 298 complaining of a brake issue. The Team Penske crew took his No. 12 Ford to the garage for repairs and he finished 35th.<\/p>\n

It was nothing short of a monstrous beginning for two other Playoff competitors. Reigning Cup champion Joey Logano didn\u2019t even take the green flag with the field. Instead his No. 22 Team Penske Ford was in the garage where the team was furiously working to repair an axle problem. He returned to the track 24 laps down and finished 34th.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Clover Chevrolet, poses with the winners sticker in Victory Lane after the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway on October 06, 2019 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Matt Sullivan\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Defending Dover race winner and last week\u2019s Charlotte ROVAL winner Chase Elliott only lasted eight laps on Sunday \u2013 his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet suffering an early engine failure. He was officially scored last \u2013 38th – and like Logano and Blaney, will need to have big points days at both Talladega and Kansas tracks. Elliott won at Talladega in May and is the defending Kansas Playoff winner.<\/p>\n

Matt DiBenedetto finished seventh \u2013 best among the non-Playoff drivers. Jimmie Johnson, whose 11 Dover wins makes him the track\u2019s winningest driver, scored points in both Stage 1 and Stage 2, took over the points lead among drivers who didn\u2019t qualify for the Playoffs. He now leads Daniel Suarez by 10-points.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Media Center Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Kyle Larson – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MENCS_DIS_KLarson_100619.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Winning crew chief Chad Johnston and co-owner Rob Kauffman –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MENCS_DIS_CJohnston_RKauffman_100619.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race – 50th Annual Drydene 400<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dover International Speedway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dover, Delaware<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday, October 6, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

   1. (2)  Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, 400.<\/p>\n

   2. (3)  Martin Truex Jr. (P), Toyota, 400.<\/p>\n

   3. (12)  Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet, 400.<\/p>\n

   4. (4)  Kevin Harvick (P), Ford, 400.<\/p>\n

   5. (1)  Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 400.<\/p>\n

   6. (18)  Kyle Busch (P), Toyota, 400.<\/p>\n

   7. (20)  Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 400.<\/p>\n

   8. (11)  Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 400.<\/p>\n

   9. (9)  Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 399.<\/p>\n

   10. (17)  Clint Bowyer (P), Ford, 399.<\/p>\n

   11. (16)  Brad Keselowski (P), Ford, 399.<\/p>\n

   12. (13)  Paul Menard, Ford, 398.<\/p>\n

   13. (6)  William Byron (P), Chevrolet, 398.<\/p>\n

   14. (15)  Daniel Suarez, Ford, 398.<\/p>\n

   15. (8)  Erik Jones, Toyota, 398.<\/p>\n

   16. (19)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 398.<\/p>\n

   17. (7)  Aric Almirola, Ford, 398.<\/p>\n

   18. (27)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 398.<\/p>\n

   19. (32)  Ryan Preece #, Chevrolet, 396.<\/p>\n

   20. (26)  Bubba Wallace, Chevrolet, 395.<\/p>\n

   21. (31)  Daniel Hemric #, Chevrolet, 394.<\/p>\n

   22. (24)  Ryan Newman, Ford, 393.<\/p>\n

   23. (25)  Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 393.<\/p>\n

   24. (28)  Michael McDowell, Ford, 391.<\/p>\n

   25. (23)  Matt Tifft #, Ford, 390.<\/p>\n

   26. (30)  Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, 389.<\/p>\n

   27. (21)  David Ragan, Ford, 388.<\/p>\n

   28. (29)  Corey LaJoie, Ford, 385.<\/p>\n

   29. (33)  BJ McLeod(i), Chevrolet, 382.<\/p>\n

   30. (36)  Joe Nemechek(i), Chevrolet, 381.<\/p>\n

   31. (34)  Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, 380.<\/p>\n

   32. (35)  JJ Yeley(i), Ford, 380.<\/p>\n

   33. (37)  Garrett Smithley(i), Ford, 377.<\/p>\n

   34. (14)  Joey Logano (P), Ford, 375.<\/p>\n

   35. (10)  Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, Suspension, 297.<\/p>\n

   36. (22)  Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, Engine, 232.<\/p>\n

   37. (38)  Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, Handling, 180.<\/p>\n

   38. (5)  Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, Engine, 8.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  135.734 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 56 Mins, 49 Secs. Margin of Victory:  1.578 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  3 for 17 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  14 among 9 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   D. Hamlin (P) 1-11;K. Larson (P) 12;D. Hamlin (P) 13-75;W. Byron (P) 76;J. Johnson 77;K. Busch 78-80;D. Suarez 81;T. Dillon 82;D. Hamlin (P) 83-183;K. Larson (P) 184-185;D. Hamlin (P) 186-228;M. Truex Jr. (P) 229-243;K. Larson (P) 244-321;P. Menard 322-327;K. Larson (P) 328-400.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Denny Hamlin (P) 4 times for 218 laps; Kyle Larson (P) 4 times for 154 laps; Martin Truex Jr. (P) 1 time for 15 laps; Paul Menard 1 time for 6 laps; Kurt Busch 1 time for 3 laps; William Byron (P) 1 time for 1 lap; Daniel Suarez 1 time for 1 lap; Jimmie Johnson 1 time for 1 lap; Ty Dillon 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 11,19,42,24,4,88,48,18,20,12<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 19,42,11,4,48,88,20,12,2,14<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service Kyle Larson celebrated his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory in two years Sunday at Dover (Del.) International Speedway, taking the checkered flag in the Drydene 400 by a convincing 1.578-seconds over Martin Truex Jr. and securing himself and his Chip Ganassi Racing team their first ever […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":28120,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[222,225,16],"class_list":["post-28115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-dover-international-speedway","tag-kyle-larson","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MENCS_DIS_KLarsonVL_100619-e1570406075514.jpg?fit=640%2C429&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-7jt","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28115","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28115"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28115\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28126,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28115\/revisions\/28126"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}