Kyle Larson Runs Away from the Field in Chicagoland Xfinity Race

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JOLIET, IL – RIS – Kyle Larson dominated Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Overton’s 300 race at Chicagoland Speedway, winning the race by 8.030 seconds.  Kevin Harvick finished second, and Cole Custer was third. 

Larson had won the pole earlier in the day but had to start from the rear of the field because of a flat right front tire that required changing before the race. That proved only a temporary deterrent.

By the end of the first 45-lap stage, Larson had driven up to sixth place, and on Lap 72, he made a three-wide pass of Harvick and Christopher Bell to take the lead for the first time.

By the end of the first 45-lap stage, Larson had driven up to sixth place, and on Lap 72, he made a three-wide pass of Harvick and Christopher Bell to take the lead for the first time.

The 25-year-old Californian went on to lead a race-high 80 laps and took advantage of an 80-lap green-flag run to the finish to win for the first time at Chicagoland, the second time this season and the 10th time in his career.

“Yeah, it was pretty hot,” Larson said. “But the adrenaline was kicking in. I can’t say enough about this race car. We were really bad (Friday in practice), so it’s cool we could win.”

Larson did not scream for joy upon crossing the finish line.  His first words to his crew were, “Water, ice and towel at the start/finish line.”

“I was able to stay pretty close to Harvick on the bottom,” Larson said. “I felt like, if the race stayed green, I would eat him up.”

After the tires began to wear, Larson moved to the top of the track, where he was unstoppable. On Lap 142 he surged past Harvick into the lead and extended his advantage to more than four seconds before a cycle of green-flag pit stops that started on Lap 166.

When the cycle ended with Brandon Jones’ stop on Lap 180, Larson was up by 9.490 seconds. From that point on, it was a cruise to the finish in unbearable heat.

When the cycle ended with Brandon Jones’ stop on Lap 180, Larson was up by 9.490 seconds. From that point on, it was a cruise to the finish—in steamy heat.

“I needed a short run there, for sure,” said Harvick, who led 38 laps. “The Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford was really good there for about 25 laps, and Kyle would struggle for 25 laps. I just didn’t need it to go green.

“I just couldn’t run the top. I would slide the front tires, and I didn’t have enough rear grip to throttle through the center of the corners. My car wouldn’t turn, but on the bottom.”

And the bottom lane wasn’t the fast way around the 1.5-mile track when the tires began to wear.

Cole Custer ran third and took the series lead from sixth-place Elliott Sadler, who fell to third in the standings behind Custer and fifth-place finisher Daniel Hemric. Daniel Suarez came home fourth in his second Xfinity start of the season.

Justin Allgaier ran seventh, followed by Paul Menard and Chase Briscoe, who scored his first career top-10 in the series. Chase Elliott was 10th and paid a quick visit to the infield care center before Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying for some IV fluids.

“I feel a lot better now,” Elliott said on his way out of the care center. “Those IVs make you feel like a million bucks.”

Unofficial Race Results for the 18th Annual Overtons 300 - Chicagoland Speedway - Joliet, IL

Fin, Str, Driver, Car, Laps, Stage 1 Pos, Stage 2 Pos, Pts, Status, Tms, Laps, Playoff Pts
1) 1, Kyle Larson(i), No. 42 ENEOS Chevrolet, 200, 6, 1, 0, Running, 3, 80, 
2) 13, Kevin Harvick(i), No. 98 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford, 200, 3, 2, 0, Running, 3, 38, 
3) 12, Cole Custer, No. 00 Haas Automation Ford, 200, , 4, 41, Running, , , 
4) 4, Daniel Suarez(i), No. 18 Juniper Networks Toyota, 200, 4, , 0, Running, 1, 13, 
5) 10, Daniel Hemric, No. 21 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet, 200, 5, 8, 41, Running, , , 
6) 8, Elliott Sadler, No. 1 OneMain Financial Chevrolet, 200, 10, 10, 33, Running, , , 
7) 18, Justin Allgaier, No. 7 BRANDT Celebrating the Farmer Chevrolet, 200, , 6, 35, Running, , , 
8) 5, Paul Menard(i), No. 22 Discount Tire Ford, 200, 8, 5, 0, Running, , , 
9) 17, Chase Briscoe, No. 60 Nutri Chomps Ford, 200, , , 28, Running, 1, 2, 
10) 9, Chase Elliott(i), No. 23 UNTUCKit Chevrolet, 200, , , 0, Running, , , 
11) 6, Brandon Jones, No. 19 Menards/Jeld-Wen Toyota, 200, 7, 9, 32, Running, 1, 11, 
12) 11, Christopher Bell #, No. 20 Rheem Toyota, 199, 2, 3, 42, Running, 2, 21, 
13) 23, Ross Chastain, No. 4 Gerber Collision & Glass Chevrolet, 199, , , 24, Running, , , 
14) 3, Austin Cindric #, No. 12 Menards/Mastercraft Doors Ford, 199, 9, , 25, Running, , , 
15) 15, Ryan Truex, No. 11 Phantom Fireworks Chevrolet, 199, , , 22, Running, , , 
16) 7, Matt Tifft, No. 2 Surface Sunscreen Chevrolet, 199, , , 21, Running, , , 
17) 24, Jeremy Clements, No. 51 RepairableVehicles.com Chevrolet, 199, , , 20, Running, , , 
18) 26, JJ Yeley, No. 38 Anixter/Superior Essex Chevrolet, 197, , , 19, Running, , , 
19) 25, Garrett Smithley, No. 0 Trophy Tractor/FAME Chevrolet, 196, , , 18, Running, , , 
20) 21, Ryan Sieg, No. 39 PYT Sports Chevrolet, 196, , , 17, Running, , , 
21) 22, Alex Labbe #, No. 36 Can-Am/Wholey/Cyclops Gear Chevrolet, 196, , , 16, Running, , , 
22) 27, Joey Gase, No. 35 Sparks Chevrolet, 195, , , 15, Running, , , 
23) 29, David Starr, No. 52 Chasco/Whataburger Chevrolet, 194, , , 14, Running, , , 
24) 32, Blake Jones, No. 8 Tennessee XXX Moonshine Chevrolet, 194, , , 13, Running, , , 
25) 30, BJ McLeod, No. 15  Chevrolet, 191, , , 12, Running, , , 
26) 37, Brandon Hightower, No. 55 Cane River Brewing Co. Toyota, 190, , , 11, Running, , , 
27) 40, Vinnie Miller #, No. 01 Gerber Collision & Glass Chevrolet, 178, , , 10, Running, , , 
28) 39, Scott Heckert, No. 78 JW Transport LLC Chevrolet, 146, , , 9, Electrical, , , 
29) 36, Spencer Boyd #, No. 76 Grunt Style Chevrolet, 134, , , 8, Suspension, , , 
30) 19, Michael Annett, No. 5 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet, 130, , , 7, Accident, , , 
31) 33, Josh Williams, No. 90 Sleep Well/Bethel Glass & Shower Door Chevrolet, 117, , , 6, Brakes, , , 
32) 16, Ryan Reed, No. 16 Drive Down A1C Lilly Diabetes Ford, 105, , , 5, Accident, , , 
33) 2, Tyler Reddick #, No. 9 Takl Chevrolet, 99, 1, 7, 18, Accident, 2, 35, 1
34) 14, Jeb Burton, No. 3 Work4Estes.com Chevrolet, 99, , , 3, Accident, , , 
35) 35, Josh Bilicki #, No. 45 Prevagen Toyota, 83, , , 2, Fuel Pump, , , 
36) 38, John Jackson, No. 66 CrashClaimsR.Us Dodge, 63, , , 1, Suspension, , , 
37) 28, Timmy Hill, No. 13 OCR Gaz Bar Toyota, 52, , , 1, Suspension, , , 
38) 34, Chad Finchum #, No. 40 Smithbilt Homes Toyota, 23, , , 1, Engine, , , 
39) 31, Jeff Green, No. 93 RSS Racing Chevrolet, 2, , , 1, Fuel Pump, , , 
40) 20, Kaz Grala #, No. 61 Kiklos/IT Coalition Ford, 1, , , 1, Electrical, , , 
 (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie Total Race Length - 200 Laps - 300 Miles
Time of Race: 02 Hrs, 13 Mins, 34 Secs.
Average Speed: 134.764 MPH
Margin of Victory: 8.030 Seconds

Race Comments: Kyle Larson won the Overton's 300 at Chicagoland Speedway, his 10th victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Prior to the start of the race, the following cars dropped to the rear of the field under penalty for the reasons indicated: Nos. 42, 00, 01 (unapproved tire change) and 4 (unapproved adjustments).

Failed to Qualify: (2) 89 Morgan Shepherd, 74 Mike Harmon.
Caution Flags: 4 for 21 laps: 
Laps: 47-51 (Stage 1 Conclusion [38]);
92-97 (Stage 2 Conclusion [39]);
100-103 (No. 3, 9, 16 Incident Turn 3 [38]);
115-120 (Debris in Turn 4 [0]).
Lead Changes: 13 among 7 drivers: 
K. Larson(i) 0;
T. Reddick # 1-11;
D. Suarez(i) 12-24;
T. Reddick # 25-48;
K. Harvick(i) 49-51;
C. Bell # 52-71;
K. Larson(i) 72-103;
K. Harvick(i) 104-116;
C. Bell # 117;
C. Briscoe 118-119;
K. Harvick(i) 120-141;
K. Larson(i) 142-169;
Brandon Jones 170-180;
K. Larson(i) 181-200.

Mahle Clevite Engine Builder of the Race:  Hendrick Engines, No. 42 
Mobil 1 Driver of the Race:  Kevin Harvick, No. 98
Sunoco Rookie of the Race:  Christopher Bell, No. 20