Kyle Larson Punches Ticket to Championship 4 with win at Texas

The NASCAR Cup Series kicked off the Round of Eight with the Autotrader EchoPark 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. This was a crucial race of the remaining eight drivers to get a good footing towards the Championship Four at Phoenix.

Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin led the field to the green flag at Texas to begin the Round of Eight of the Cup Series Playoffs. After the competition caution, a big pileup occurs involving Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, Alex Bowman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Josh Bilicki, and others. After the restart, William Byron took the lead with Martin Truex Jr in second. It was rather quiet for the rest of the stage and after green flag pit stops, Kyle Busch went on to win stage one.

Stage 1 Results:

1. Kyle Busch
2. Ryan Blaney
3. Kyle Larson
4. Kurt Busch
5. William Byron
6. Chase Briscoe
7. Denny Hamlin
8. Chase Elliott
9. Tyler Reddick
10. Brad Keselowski

Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson led the field to start stage two with the battle of Kyle’s. Busch was able to take the lead with Larson and Byron battling for second. Stage two remained calm, as everyone was gearing for the final leg of the race. Kyle Larson went on to win stage two, just edging out his teammate William Byron.

Stage Two Results:

1. Kyle Larson
2. William Byron
3. Ryan Blaney
4. Kevin Harvick
5. Brad Keselowski
6. Kurt Busch
7. Denny Hamlin
8. Chase Briscoe
9. Tyler Reddick
10. Kyle Busch

Larson and Byeon were looking like the class of the field so far as they continued to be out in front to begin the final stage. Everything began to heat up with 30 laps to go as Kyle Busch gets into Chris Buescher, who lost control but was able to save it. Everyone tried to check up but Anthony Alfredo got ran into by Chase Briscoe to bring out the caution. Alfredo’s car caught fire but he was able to get out of the car with no issues and was fine. After the red flag, the race resumed and it got even more intense when Ryan Blaney made contact with Denny Hamlin, giving Hamlin a flat and making him spin. With nine laps to go, Kevin Harvick gave a tap to Tyler Reddick, moving him up the track and right in front of Brad Keselowski, who bumped into the back of Reddick. Martin Truex Jr was also involved in a late incident when he made contact with Daniel Suarez, putting him in a hole for the next two races. Byron and Reddick did everything they could, but there was no stopping Kyle Larson, who would go on to earn his eighth win of the 2021 season and punching his ticket to the Championship Four in Phoenix.

2021 Autotrader EchoPark 500 Top 10

1. Kyle Larson
2. William Byron
3. Christopher Bell
4. Brad Keselowski
5. Kevin Harvick
6. Ryan Blaney
7. Chase Elliott
8. Kyle Busch
9. Tyler Reddick
10. Daniel Suarez