Kyle Larson Out Runs Chaos to Win the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway

Kyle Larson drove his No. 42 for Chip Ganassi Racing through the chaos to capture the checkered flag from Martin Truex Jr. in overtime in the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway. It was Larson’s first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory at Richmond and second at the track. Larson’s first Richmond win came at the ToyotaCare 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series race in April.

Larson led three times for 53 of 404 laps around the ¾-mile D-shaped oval at Richmond. The Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 pit crew was the difference in the race as their final pit stop allowed Larson to take the front for the overtime restart.

“To get a win right before the playoffs start, I really hope it helps our momentum and confidence,” said Larson. “We’ve just got to keep working hard throughout the playoffs, at the race shop and at the racetrack to make sure we’re improving our cars, which we have been all season long.”  

Joey Logano’s bid to make the Monster Energy Series Playoffs came up short as he finished second, just .951 seconds behind Larson, in the Federated Auto Parts 400. The top five was completed by Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, and Daniel Suarez.

Truex was moments away from crowning his 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season championship in Gatorade Victory Lane at Richmond, but a late caution flag for Derrike Cope’s collision with the wall led to a final restart in the regular season finale at Richmond. On the restart, Virginia native Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 of Joe Gibbs Racing made contact with Truex on the final lap to give the Federated Auto Parts 400 victory to Larson.

“Tonight, throughout the race, we just kept getting it a little bit better each pit stop,” said Truex. “The last 150, 200 laps, it was lights out. Nobody could touch us after 10 laps in a run. A little bit disappointed obviously that the caution came out at the end. Nothing we can do about those things.”

Truex was crowned the 2017 Monster Energy Series Regular Season champion in an exclusive presentation on pit road at Richmond. The moment provided fans with a memorable conclusion to the track’s long history as the final race of the regular season. Richmond’s fall race weekend will move two weeks forward to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs next season.

In 2018, Richmond Raceway is home for NASCAR racing “under the lights.” Richmond will host the Toyota spring race weekend “under the lights” on April 20-21, 2018, and return in the fall with its first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoff race weekend on September 21-22, 2018.

2018 RICHMOND NATION season ticket renewals are currently open for fans to hold their same tickets for next season for only $10. Regular season tickets for Richmond’s 2018 NASCAR season go on sale December 1. To learn more, visit richmondraceway.com.

Richmond Raceway PR