TC Daily Pit Stop: Kyle Larson Holds off Christopher Bell to Win Las Vegas, Clinches Championship 4 Berth; Ryan Blaney Disqualified
TC Daily Pit Stop: Monday, October 16th, 2023
Kyle Larson Narrowly Beats Christopher Bell for Las Vegas Win, Championship 4 Berth
It was a dominant day for Kyle Larson in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He swept Stages 1 and 2, and led a race-high 133 laps, however, he had to endure a final charge from Christopher Bell in the closing laps to secure the win.
Larson was able to somehow hold off Bell by 0.082 sec. to score the win, and with the win, Larson will now advance to the Championship 4.
“I could see him coming in my mirror, for sure, and was hoping that those lappers were going to give me the bottom,” said Larson after the race. “The No. 38 peeled off to the bottom, and I knew I couldn’t follow him. I just didn’t want to go all the way to the top and leave the middle open.”
Behind Playoff competitors Larson and Bell were non-Playoff contenders Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Ross Chastain.
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RACE RESULTS
DRIVER STANDINGS
OWNER STANDINGS
INSPECTION REPORT
Ryan Blaney Disqualified For Left-Front Shock Issues
Absolute disaster for Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Team Penske team. Blaney, who scored a solid sixth-place finish in Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, will officially be credited with a last-place finish after being disqualified after post-race inspection following the event.
Blaney’s No. 12 Ford Mustang was found to be in violation of section 14.11.3.5 of the NASCAR Cup Series Rule Book, which pertains to the shocks. According to a note from NASCAR, Blaney’s car had a left-front shock, which didn’t meet the overall specified length outlined in the rule book.
As a result, Blaney, who was 17 points below the cutline at the conclusion of the race, will now move to 56 points below the cutline with two races remaining in the Round of 8 of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
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Video: Kyle Larson Defeats Christopher Bell in Electric Finish at Las Vegas
A finish so nice, we have to watch it again! In the closing laps of Sunday’s race at Las Vegas, Christopher Bell continued to take chunks out of Kyle Larson’s race lead. As Bell kept closing, he got close enough to mount a charge on the final lap of the race, and what resulted was an exciting finish.