Kyle Larson earns Crown Jewel Southern 500 Win
Photo: Evan McNelia (Kyle Larson Phoenix Raceway Spring 2023)
Kyle Larson won the 2023 Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway after holding off 23XI Racing No. 45 driver Tyler Reddick in the closing laps. By winning the first race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Larson and his Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet are the first to secure a spot in the Round of 12. It was his first Cup victory at Darlington though he has finished runner-up or 3rd at the track five times.
It’s Larson’s third victory of the year which ties his win total from last season. In 2021, Larson won 10 races on his way to becoming Cup Series champion. Since the introduction of the Next Gen Car in 2022 he has not come near replicating that same consistency and success. Advancing early is a huge step in a positive direction as the team looks to build momentum through the playoffs toward their championship run.
Toyota’s were dominant early leading a race-high 307 laps. However, pit road problems among other issues left just the two 23XI cars of Reddick and Bubba Wallace as the two to finish in the top 10 for the manufacturer. Wallace finished 7th after spinning off Turn 4 at the end of Stage 1. He sits one point below the playoff cutline.
Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 driver Denny Hamlin led a whopping 177 laps and won both stages before a phantom loose wheel brought him down pit road twice in short order during the final stage. The team was not able to find a loose wheel on the car but the damage was done as Hamlin lost the lead lap and wasn’t able to recover finishing 25th one lap down.
Pole-winner and driver of the JGR No. 20 Christopher Bell led 40 laps, mostly during the opening run. A jack issue on pit road lost him the lead to Reddick but he was able to stay in the top 10 to finish the stage, despite hitting the wall in the closing laps. He lost further ground evaluating damage on pit road and was slow to start Stage 2 with toe link damage and he fell outside of the top 20. Bell finished 23rd as the first driver off the lead lap.
Reddick was in the mix all day after qualifying 3rd. He struggled with some mechanical issues as there was a point in the race where he said that his gear indicator was not showing. About 260 laps into the race he reported his car was slipping in and out of gear, a problem Larson also reported. It was nothing the drivers couldn’t handle and Reddick passed Hamlin for the lead during the first pit cycle of the final stage.
Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 driver Kevin Harvick was running strong and closing the gap on Reddick when he elected to head toward pit road from 2nd to attempt to jump Reddick in the next cycle. Reddick saw his move late and checked up in an attempt to dive to pit road. However, he was directly in front of Ryan Newman in the lapped Rick Ware Racing No. 51 and Newman drove into the back of Reddick’s car causing himself to spin out bringing out a caution.
However, the caution was waved and pit road was closed before Harvick reached the commitment line the team still serviced the car resulting in a penalty for the No. 4 and Harvick had to start at the rear of the field on the next restart. Harvick finished 19th and is two points back. Under the caution on pit road, Larson took his first lead of the race and he led the remainder of the way.
A few laps after the restart another caution was waved for a wreck between Alex Bowman in the HMS No. 48 and Daniel Suárez in the Trackhouse Racing No. 99. Bowman threw two risky blocks and the second got Suárez triggering a wreck. All three involved were wrecked but fortunately are non-playoff drivers.
Richard Childress Racing No. 8 driver Kyle Busch had to make his way from the rear at the start of the race after the team had to replace a toe link that got broken during practice. Busch steadily made his way through the field and finished 11th, however, it was not without incident.
Shortly after the Bowman crash, Busch was caught as the low car running three-wide out of Turn 4. He moved up the track into Front Row Motorsports No. 38 driver Todd Gilliland who clipped the driver running high which caused him to fishtail before spinning out on the front stretch. Hamlin hit Gilliland and moved outside in front of FRM No. 34 driver and fellow playoff competitor Michael McDowell.
McDowell slammed into Hamlin and was sent up the track in front of Bell who also made contact. The damage McDowell’s car took ended up being terminal. He now has the toughest road of any playoff driver currently sitting in 16th out of 16 in the playoffs 19 points below the cutline.
Next week at Kansas Speedway the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs continue with the running of the Hollywood Casino 400. Earlier this season Kansas provided one of the most action-packed races of the regular season and with the stakes raised it should carry the same energy and excitement this time around. The ARCA Menard’s Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series are rejoining the circuit, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series will wrap its regular season as part of a full weekend slate of racing.
Darlington Race Results & Playoff Standings:
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Darlington:
Race 1 of 10 in the playoffs & 1 of 3 in the Round of 16
1) #5-Kyle Larson [3 wins, 1 in Round of 16], 2074
2) #24-William Byron [5 wins], 2075
3) #45-Tyler Reddick [1 win], 2060
4) #17-Chris Buescher [3 wins], 2057
5) #11-Denny Hamlin [2 wins], 2057
6) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. [3 wins], 2055
7) #8-Kyle Busch [3 wins], 2050
7) #6-Brad Keselowski, 2048
9) #12-Ryan Blaney [1 win], 2046
10) #1-Ross Chastain [1 win], 2043
11) #22-Joey Logano [1 win], 2033
12) #20-Christopher Bell [1 win], 2031
Cutoff: 13) #23-Bubba Wallace, 2030
14) #4-Kevin Harvick, 2029
15) #47-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. [1 win], 2027
16) #34-Michael McDowell [1 win], 2012