April 16, 2023 | By Lee Spencer

Kyle Larson charges to first Martinsville win

Kyle Larson celebrated his first win at Martinsville Speedway and a record-28th victory for Hendrick Motorsports on Sunday.

Following a two-tire stop on Lap 346, Larson lined up fourth for the final run behind three cars on old tires.

With a solid launch and a short battle with Joey Logano, the No. 5 Chevrolet took the point and led the final 30 laps en route to Larson’s 21st NASCAR Cup win.

“I don’t know what to say, I never thought I’d win here,” said Larson after his second win of the season. “Great job all around guys.”

Logano, who started from the rear following unapproved adjustments, had not been a factor in the NOCO 400 throughout the first 345 laps. The decision not to pit during the fifth and final caution after JJ Yeley hit the wall in Turn 3 on Lap 343, placed the No. 22 Ford at the point for the Lap 355 restart. Logano didn’t have enough to hold off Larson but was able to salvage a second-place result.

“Solid recovery for what the start of the race looked like,” Logano said. “We went down a lap twice, two times. At one point in the race, I would have been just happy to finish on a lead lap.

“And Paul (Wolfe, crew chief) did a good job of getting some good changes to the Verizon Mustang to where it got competitive. We just needed track position. Was able to stay out and get a lucky caution there during a green flag cycle. Stayed out again when everyone pitted and put us on the front row and a shot to win the race.”

Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Aric Almirola, Ryan Blaney, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Bubba Wallace and Chase Elliott—making his return after recovering from a broken leg— rounded out the top 10. Elliott slouched on the ground alongside the No. 9 Chevy following the race.

"It was about what I expected, so that’s a good thing," Elliott said. "It was warm. I’ve been sitting on the couch for six weeks, so I think that probably hurt me more than anything. But our NAPA Chevy, we struggled every run but the last one.

"We finally got it going there at the end and I was able to make some passes and do things that I didn’t really think I’d be capable of doing, or at least of us fixing it to that degree here at the race track. So I was pleasantly surprised by that. Got us a top-10 out of our first day back, so that’s definitely something to not be too bummed about.”

Polesitter Ryan Preece won his first stage on Lap 81 and continued with the lead until the second caution on Lap 136 after Erik Jones punted Harrison Burton in Turn 2. His 135 circuits at the point were a race-high. Unfortunately, Preece was busted for speeding during pit stops and mired in traffic for the remainder of the race. He recovered to 15th.

Ross Chastain remained on the track with old tires and assumed the lead on Lap136. Kevin Harvick claimed the point on  Lap 167 and held serve for the second stage win—his first since 2020.

Briscoe stayed out during pit stops and took the lead for the first time on Lap 186. Although Hamlin passed Briscoe on Lap 257, the No. 14 Ford cycled back to the front on Lap 307 following Caution 4 for debris after a wheel came off of the No.78 car on the front stretch. He led until Lap 345—when JJ Yeley hit the wall in Turn 3.

“It would have been more of a statement if we won the race, obviously," Briscoe said. "I thought as a company we had a really good day. All four cars were in contention. I felt like a Stewart-Haas car probably should have won the race and we just couldn’t catch the breaks we needed there at the end, but, overall, a great day. 

"That’s something that as a company we needed to go and run up front. All four cars were really competitive. I wish one of us would have won the race, but you’ll have that. We’ll go on to next week and hopefully, we can continue this speed and this momentum as a company.”

Briscoe’s 109 laps led at Martinsville was a single-race best this season. He is scheduled to have surgery on Monday morning after breaking his finger last week at Bristol.

Logano, Almirola and Hamlin opted not to pit. Larson took two tires and lined up fourth with Briscoe behind. Harvick, who was fourth before the caution, exited the pits without his lug nut secure and was forced to return to pit road. He finished 20th.

With 33 laps remaining, Larson attacked Logano’s bumper. Two laps later, Larson pressed on the inside of the No. 22 and eventually nosed out to the lead on Lap 371. By Lap 376, Larson checked to a two-second lead.

Following the fifth and final caution, 65 laps remained to determine the contest. By Lap 367, Larson had caught Logano and began attacking his bumper. With 33 laps to go, Larson attacked Logano’s bumper. Two laps later, Larson pressed on the inside of the No. 22 and eventually nosed out to the lead on Lap 371. By Lap 376, Larson checked to a two-second lead.

Over the final 30 circuits, Larson extended his advantage to 4.142 seconds.

“I feel like Cliff (Daniels, crew chief) and everybody did a great job all day on pit road making the right calls, having great pit stops, and then it all kind of worked out for me there at the end,” Larson said after scoring HMS’ 295th win. “We had a great car. That was the best my car had been I think being able to get out front and manage.

“But, yeah, I had never ever would have thought that I would win here at Martinsville. This place has been so tough on me. Just does not suit my driving style at all.

I like to charge the center. I like to roll momentum, and that's just not what this place is like. Thanks to Cliff Daniels and everybody for making me feel like I know what I'm doing sometimes around here. So I just can't believe it.”

Christopher Bell retains the points lead by five over Ross Chastain.