Parity has all the time been the objective with this era of a automotive and because of this, dominant performances just like the one we noticed final weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway have change into a rarity. Kyle Larson moved forward pole-sitter Alex Bowman simply 33 laps into the race and by no means appeared again.
He was not handed beneath green-flag circumstances once more and dominated the rest of the race. Larson’s victory was in contrast to something we have seen at Bristol since 1977 when Cale Yarborough led 495 of 500 laps, and essentially the most laps ever led by a Hendrick driver in a single race. Did we point out that he swept each of the levels as effectively?
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, Ally Chevrolet Camaro and Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photos
Larson crossed the road simply over seven seconds forward of teammate Chase Elliott, which was additionally the biggest margin of victory on the half-mile brief observe in 30 years. NASCAR is nearing the top of its third yr of competitors with the Gen-7 automotive, so the place precisely does this efficiency rank for the reason that automotive’s 2022 debut? Trying primarily at laps led by race winners, this is essentially the most dominant wins of the Subsequent Gen period…
5. 2024 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
In Larson’s first victory of the 2024 season, the Hendrick driver additionally swept each levels on his approach to main 182 of 267 laps — 67.8%. What made it extra spectacular is that he did not run away with this victory. He battled door-to-door with Ross Chastain on the ultimate restart after which held off a charging Tyler Reddick on the end, successful by lower than half-a-second.
Watch: Kyle Larson fends off Tyler Reddick in closing laps for Las Vegas victory
4. 2023 Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen Worldwide
Yet one more case of Hendrick domination, and never the final you will note on this record. William Byron got here one level in need of scoring most factors finally yr’s occasion on the New York highway course. He took the lead on Lap 21 and led 66 of 90 laps, solely briefly shedding it once more by way of the cycle of pit stops. He crossed the road 2.6 seconds away from the closest competitors, main 73.3% of laps that day.
Watch: William Byron secures first road-course win at Watkins Glen
3. 2022 Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway
One other look by Larson, who once more swept each levels on his approach to successful the 2022 Homestead race. He lead 74.5% of the race, controlling the occasion for 199 of its 267 circuits. The win was bittersweet, coming one week after he was eradicated from the playoffs. Nonetheless, the win did put the No. 5 automotive into the Championship 4 on the proprietor’s aspect of issues.
Watch: Larson on Homestead win: ‘Finest run we’ve had all yr lengthy’
2. 2023 Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
The one non-Hendrick driver on this record. In the summertime of 2023, Martin Truex Jr. lived as much as his nickname as “Mr. Monday” when rain pushed the occasion to the next day. He dominated each levels and led 254 of 301 laps at “The Magic Mile” with Joe Gibbs Racing. With the No. 19 Toyota out entrance for 84.4% of the laps run, it turned essentially the most dominant exhibiting of the Subsequent Gen period … till a few days in the past.
Watch: 2023’s ‘Mr. Monday’ seals it with a win at New Hampshire
1. 2024 Bass Professional Retailers Evening race at Bristol Motor Speedway
Sure, Larson’s victory final Saturday evening at Bristol tops all of them. With 462 of 500 laps led, Larson was out entrance for 92.4% of the race. As soon as he took the lead from Bowman, he basically went unchallenged and was by no means handed beneath green-flag circumstances once more. It was essentially the most dominant exhibiting (by laps led) since October, 2019, when Truex lead 92.8% (464 of 500 laps) at Martinsville Speedway almost 5 years in the past.
Race winner Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Photos
“I feel each time I am executed racing or executed being a driver at Hendrick Motorsports and people data are nonetheless there, then yeah, it will imply so much to me,” mentioned Larson when requested concerning the data damaged Saturday evening. “However for proper now it is such as you’re simply making an attempt to do a superb job, and the data will handle themselves, I suppose. I am positive I will be capable of form of give it some thought extra once I’m down the highway.”
It was additionally essentially the most commanding efficiency of Larson’s Cup profession. In 27 earlier wins, the closest he ever got here to this was when he led 264 of 300 — or 88% of the laps at Nashville in 2021. Larson was helped by the shortage of yellow flags on the notoriously action-packed Bristol, as there have been simply three cautions for incidents. By the checkered flag, solely these contained in the top-ten remained on the lead lap.
