NASCAR Recap: Kyle Larson Wins at Martinsville

on April 16, 2023

Kyle Larson coasts victory at Martinsville for his second win of the season, basically ensuring he will be one of the 16 playoff drivers in 2023. Larson took the lead with 30 laps to go and then held off defending series champion Joey Logano for the checkered flag. The win continues Hendrick’s run of dominance at the track that has brought ups and downs to the race team.

KYLE LARSON FIRST WIN

It’s Larson’s first win at Martinsville in his 17th attempt. Kyle Larson has been consistently good at most NASCAR tracks since climbig behind the wheel, but Martinsville has always been a struggle for him. After the race, Larson mentioned he never thought he would win at the track and had to find a place to put the grandfather clock trophy awarded to the winner.

Larson joined teammate William Byron as the only drivers to win multiple races, so far, in 2023. It was also Larson’s 21st win of his career tying him for 38th all time with Jeff Burton, Bobby Labonte, Benny Parsons and Jack Smith. Larson was also named one of NASCAR’s top 75 drivers in the week leading up to the race.

CHASE ELLIOTT RETURNS

While Larson found himself in Victory Lane, it was a different kind of victory for teammate Chase Elliott. Elliott broke his leg snowboarding earlier this year and missed several races. Elliott returned to the track for the first time since his injury and finished tenth. The 2020 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series Champion has been granted a playoff waiver, so he can qualify for the playoffs if wins a race and secures a spot in the top 30 in points before the end of the 26th race of the season.

TOP 10 FINISHERS

Kyle Larson
Joey Logano
Martin Truex Jr.
Denny Hamlin
Chase Briscoe
Aric Almirola
Ryan Blaney
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Bubba Wallace
Chase Elliott

TOP 10 POINTS

Christopher Bell
Ross Chastain
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Larson
Martin Truex Jr.
Tyler Reddick
Joey Logano
Kyle Busch
Denny Hamlin
Ryan Blaney

XFINITY SERIES AT MARTINSVILLE

John Hunter Nemechek dominated Saturday night’s race at Martinsville en route to his second win of the season. Nemechek led 198 of the 250 laps in the Xfinity race and swept the first two stages Saturday. The win also snapped Chevrolet’s three race win streak in the Xfinity Series. The win also moves Nemechek to the top of the Xfinity points standings.

TOP 10 FINISHERS

John Hunter Nemechek
Sammy Smith
Cole Custer
Josh Berry
Brandon Jones
Justin Allgaier
Daniel Hemric
Derek Kraus
Brett Moffitt
Chandler Smith

TOP 10 POINTS

John Hunter Nemechek
Austin Hill
Chandler Smith
Riley Herbst
Josh Berry
Justin Allgaier
Sammy Smith
Cole Custer
Daniel Hemric
Sheldon Creed

CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES AT MARTINSVILLE

Rain sandwiched Friday’s truck race at Martinsville as the race was first delayed and then shortened. After the start of the race was delayed by two hours, drivers were only able to complete 124 of the scheduled 200 laps. Corey Heim found himself out front when the race was finally called. It’s Heim’s first win of the season and the third of his career.

TOP 10 FINISHERS

Corey Heim
Kyle Busch
Zane Smith
Ty Majeski
Tanner Gray
Ben Rhodes
Matt Dibendetto
Taylor Gray
William Sawalich
Chase Purdy

TOP 10 POINTS

Ty Majeski
Zane Smith
Ben Rhodes
Corey Heim
Christian Eckes
Grant Enfinger
Matt Crafton
Tanner Gray
Matt Dibenedetto
Chase Purdy

NEXT UP

The Monster Energy Cup Series and Xfinity Series now head to the biggest Superspeedway on the circuit in Talladega, Alabama. It will be quite the contrast from the shortest track on the circuit in Martinsville. Meanwhile the trucks are off until the first weekend in May when they will be racing in Kansas.

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