{"id":35762,"date":"2021-09-18T23:15:06","date_gmt":"2021-09-19T04:15:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=35762"},"modified":"2021-09-19T08:26:38","modified_gmt":"2021-09-19T13:26:38","slug":"kyle-larson-wins-wild-nascar-cup-elimination-race-at-bristol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2021\/09\/18\/kyle-larson-wins-wild-nascar-cup-elimination-race-at-bristol\/","title":{"rendered":"Kyle Larson wins wild NASCAR Cup elimination race at Bristol"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 18, 2021 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer , NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

BRISTOL, Tenn. \u2013 Kyle Larson celebrated victory in Saturday\u2019s Bass Pro Shops Night Race with a burnout on the frontstretch at Bristol Motor Speedway, as tempers flared between Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott on pit road.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 18, 2021 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Logan Riely\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

With an assist from Elliott, who took Harvick\u2019s line at the .533-mile concrete track and slowed his progress, Larson made the winning pass on Lap 397 of 400 and sealed his sixth NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season.<\/p>\n

At the other end of the spectrum, Aric Almirola, Tyler Reddick, Kurt Busch and Michael McDowell were eliminated from the Playoffs in the cutoff race of the Round of 16. William Byron snagged the final transfer spot into the Round of 12 by finishing third behind Larson and Harvick.<\/p>\n

That result gave Byron a two-point edge over Almirola and Reddick, the first two drivers out of the Playoff.<\/p>\n

On Lap 465 of 500, as Harvick was attempting to pass Elliott for the lead, the driver of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford pinched Elliott\u2019s Chevrolet toward the outside wall, with contact between the cars cutting a tire on Elliott\u2019s machine.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 18, 2021 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Elliott brought his car to pit road on Lap 466, lost three laps in the process and returned to the track behind Harvick. On new tires, Elliott quickly passed Harvick to get one lap back and took Harvick\u2019s line at the top of the track.<\/p>\n

Larson gradually closed on Harvick and made the winning pass on Lap 397. Larson did an admirable job keeping his car under control as Harvick retaliated with contact to the rear of Larson\u2019s Camaro on the frontstretch.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, that was an awesome race,\u201d said Larson, who won for the first time at Bristol and the 12th time in his career. \u201cIt was so cool to be able to race there for the win. Obviously, Harvick and Chase got together. Chase was upset. Kind of held him up. It got Harvick having to move around and use his tires up off the bottom.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, and Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Subway Delivery Ford, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 18, 2021 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI started to get some dive-ins working off of (Turn) 2, got a big run, decided to pull the trigger, slide him, squeeze him a little bit. Then he had me jacked up down the frontstretch. It was wild.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Larson celebrated, Harvick and Elliott traded their views of the finish in a heated exchange on pit road.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just chicken (expletive),\u201d Harvick said after the confrontation broke up. \u201cI don\u2019t know what else to say. Throw a temper tantrum like you\u2019re two years old because you got passed for the lead and got a flat tire. We barely even rubbed. It\u2019s all Chase\u2019s way, or it\u2019s no way. If he doesn\u2019t get his way, he throws a fit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not surprisingly, Elliott had a different interpretation of the events in the closing stages of the race.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 Hooters Chevrolet, (L) and Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Subway Delivery Ford, have a heated conversation after an incident late in the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 18, 2021 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something that he does all the time,\u201d said the reigning Cup Series champion, who finished 25th. \u201cHe runs into your left side constantly at other tracks, and sometimes it does cut down your left sides. Other times it doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether he does it on purpose, it doesn\u2019t matter. At some point, you\u2019ve got to draw the line. I don\u2019t care who he is and how long he\u2019s been doing it. I\u2019m going to stand up for myself and my team, and we\u2019ll go on down the road.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of the 12 drivers who advanced to the second round of the Playoff, four represent Hendrick Motorsports (Elliott, Larson, Byron and Alex Bowman); four represent Joe Gibbs Racing (Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr. and Christopher Bell); and three represent Team Penske (Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Subway Delivery Ford, and Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 Hooters Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 18, 2021 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Harvick is the lone driver from Stewart-Haas Racing to advance to the Round of 12.<\/p>\n

Both Kyle Busch and Bell survived cut tires near the end of the race to clinch spots in the next round. Blaney finished fourth and Bowman fifth on Saturday night. Keselowski, Truex, Erik Jones, Hamlin and Matt DiBenedetto completed the top 10.<\/p>\n

Harvick and Elliott later continued their discussion behind closed doors in Elliott\u2019s No. 9 transporter.<\/p>\n

 <\/h3>\n

 <\/h3>\n

 <\/h3>\n

Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/BMS2NCSKLarson091821.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cliff Daniels (Crew Chief, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/BMS2NCSCDaniels091821.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Cup Series Race – 61st Annual Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race<\/b><\/p>\n

Bristol Motor Speedway<\/b><\/p>\n

Bristol, Tennessee<\/b><\/p>\n

Saturday, September 18, 2021<\/b><\/p>\n

               1. (5)  Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, 500.<\/p>\n

               2. (8)  Kevin Harvick (P), Ford, 500.<\/p>\n

               3. (14)  William Byron (P), Chevrolet, 500.<\/p>\n

               4. (7)  Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, 500.<\/p>\n

               5. (11)  Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet, 500.<\/p>\n

               6. (10)  Brad Keselowski (P), Ford, 500.<\/p>\n

               7. (1)  Martin Truex Jr. (P), Toyota, 500.<\/p>\n

               8. (22)  Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 500.<\/p>\n

               9. (2)  Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 500.<\/p>\n

               10. (19)  Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 500.<\/p>\n

               11. (3)  Joey Logano (P), Ford, 500.<\/p>\n

               12. (13)  Tyler Reddick (P), Chevrolet, 500.<\/p>\n

               13. (20)  Chase Briscoe #, Ford, 500.<\/p>\n

               14. (17)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 500.<\/p>\n

               15. (18)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 500.<\/p>\n

               16. (28)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 500.<\/p>\n

               17. (27)  Ryan Preece, Chevrolet, 500.<\/p>\n

               18. (12)  Aric Almirola (P), Ford, 500.<\/p>\n

               19. (15)  Kurt Busch (P), Chevrolet, 500.<\/p>\n

               20. (23)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 499.<\/p>\n

               21. (9)  Kyle Busch (P), Toyota, 499.<\/p>\n

               22. (21)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 498.<\/p>\n

               23. (25)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 498.<\/p>\n

               24. (16)  Michael McDowell (P), Ford, 498.<\/p>\n

               25. (4)  Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, 497.<\/p>\n

               26. (31)  Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 497.<\/p>\n

               27. (35)  JJ Yeley(i), Chevrolet, 495.<\/p>\n

               28. (26)  Cole Custer, Ford, 494.<\/p>\n

               29. (6)  Christopher Bell (P), Toyota, 493.<\/p>\n

               30. (36)  Garrett Smithley(i), Chevrolet, 487.<\/p>\n

               31. (33)  Josh Bilicki, Ford, 482.<\/p>\n

               32. (38)  David Starr(i), Toyota, 482.<\/p>\n

               33. (37)  James Davison, Chevrolet, 474.<\/p>\n

               34. (34)  Quin Houff, Chevrolet, Accident, 375.<\/p>\n

               35. (30)  Anthony Alfredo #, Ford, Accident, 313.<\/p>\n

               36. (29)  Justin Haley(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 216.<\/p>\n

               37. (32)  BJ McLeod(i), Ford, Accident, 215.<\/p>\n

               38. (24)  Ryan Newman, Ford, DVP, 177.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  87.409 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 2 Mins, 56 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.227 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  8 for 71 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  23 among 7 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   M. Truex Jr. (P) 1-5;C. Elliott (P) 6-43;B. Keselowski (P) 44;C. Elliott (P) 45-83;K. Larson (P) 84-90;D. Hamlin (P) 91-121;K. Larson (P) 122;D. Hamlin (P) 123-129;B. Keselowski (P) 130;K. Larson (P) 131-137;B. Keselowski (P) 138-144;D. Hamlin (P) 145-171;R. Blaney (P) 172;K. Larson (P) 173-253;B. Keselowski (P) 254;K. Harvick (P) 255-264;R. Blaney (P) 265-307;K. Harvick (P) 308-336;K. Larson (P) 337-365;R. Blaney (P) 366;K. Larson (P) 367-412;C. Elliott (P) 413-464;K. Harvick (P) 465-496;K. Larson (P) 497-500.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Kyle Larson (P) 7 times for 175 laps; Chase Elliott (P) 3 times for 129 laps; Kevin Harvick (P) 3 times for 71 laps; Denny Hamlin (P) 3 times for 65 laps; Ryan Blaney (P) 3 times for 45 laps; Brad Keselowski (P) 4 times for 10 laps; Martin Truex Jr. (P) 1 time for 5 laps.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 11,5,9,2,12,4,18,20,19,24<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 5,11,2,24,9,4,12,20,8,18<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer , NASCAR Wire Service BRISTOL, Tenn. \u2013 Kyle Larson celebrated victory in Saturday\u2019s Bass Pro Shops Night Race with a burnout on the frontstretch at Bristol Motor Speedway, as tempers flared between Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott on pit road. With an assist from Elliott, who took Harvick\u2019s line at the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":35770,"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":[177,225,16],"class_list":["post-35762","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-bristol-motor-speedway","tag-kyle-larson","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/GettyImages-1341196507-scaled-e1632057681779.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-9iO","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35762","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=35762"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35762\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35778,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35762\/revisions\/35778"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35770"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}