DARLINGTON, S.C. — Kyle Larson had led plenty of laps around Darlington Raceway through the years, just not the last one.
He finally accomplished that Sunday night with his victory at the Southern 500.
Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, came into the crown jewel race and playoff opener having been in front for 715 career laps at the track “Too Tough To Tame” without taking the checkered flag.
“This is a track I really enjoy, suits my style,” Larson said. “I just hadn’t won yet. Was good to do it today.”
Especially because it puts his Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet into the second round of the Cup Series playoffs no matter where he finishes at the two remaining first-round races at Kansas and Bristol the next two weeks. The field of title contenders will be trimmed from 16 to 12 drivers before the next round.