NOCO 400
Heading into the Spring Martinsville race, Kyle Larson did not boast a stellar track record at the southern Virginia short track. While he could claim three starts from the pole position, that was coupled with four DNFs.
April 16, 2023, that would all change.
After a mediocre qualifying effort, Larson started the day P19. It took only 16 laps for the Hendrick Motorsports driver to break into the top 10. He gained one more spot to finish the opening stage P9.
His first trip to pit road was a safe one for four tires and fuel, and his all-star pit crew gained him two more spots for the restart.
Larson held steady just inside the top 10 and a caution on lap 133 brought him back to pit road for another set of tires and a refill on fuel. This move would set him up to finish the second stage in P10.
Crew chief Cliff Daniels brought his driver in for more adjustments to start the final stage in P6.
The No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports driver held steady in P6 as the laps ticked by. With 98 to go, the caution flew again and his team opted to stay on track. This would ultimately put him in the catbird seat on lap 313.
Running P2, the caution came out again with only 57 laps remaining.
Rich MARvelous Move of the Race
Daniels then made the call that would turn into the Rich MARvelous Move of the Race.
Larson came to his crew for fuel and right-side tires only. While this put him back on track in P5, the veteran driver and former NASCAR Cup Series champion methodically worked his way through the leading cars.
With 40 to go, Larson was battling for the lead. He went door to door, and bumper to bumper, with Joey Logano for 11 laps. After taking the lead with 29 laps remaining, Larson went to work putting as much room between his No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro and the field as possible, a whopping 3.5 seconds at one point on his way to his first Martinsville win.
Post-Race
“Yeah, just huge congratulations to this whole 5 team and Hendrick Motorsports. I feel like Cliff and everybody did a great job all day on pit road making the right calls, having great pit stops, and then it all kind of worked out for me there at the end.
We had a great car. That was the best my car had been I think being able to get out front and manage.
But, yeah, I had never ever would have thought that I would win here at Martinsville. This place has been so tough on me. Just does not suit my driving style at all.
But thanks to Cliff Daniels and everybody for making me feel like I know what I’m doing sometimes around here. So I just can’t believe it.”
Nice story! I was so glad to see Kyle Larson finally get a win at Martinsville. It has been a rough track for him over the years. I was also so happy that Chase Elliott got to come back today and that he pulled out a Top 10 Finish! My husband and I always attend the Fall Martinsville race and I really enjoy going there!
Agree on the recipient of this weeks honors. As always, Track position at the PaperClip makes crew chiefs roll the dice.