Passing was at a premium in Sunday’s race and Larson struggled to run mid-pack many of the day, however he moved into the top-five by staying out when most others pit for a warning on Lap 305 of 400.
Whereas underneath one other warning on Lap 343, Larson pit however took on solely two new tyres and lined up fifth on a restart behind 4 different drivers who had remained on the observe.
With 29 laps remaining, after a duel with chief Joey Logano, Larson emerged with the lead and by no means regarded again, driving away to select up the win by four.142 seconds.
The victory is the second this season for Larson, 21st of his profession and first at Martinsville, which was an infinite shock to the 2021 sequence champion, who mentioned the circuit doesn’t go well with his driving type.
Logano held off Martin Truex Jr. on the line to carry on to second place, Denny Hamlin was fourth and Chase Briscoe rounded out the top-five.
Finishing the top-10 have been Aric Almirola, Ryan Blaney, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Bubba Wallace and Chase Elliott, who was making his first begin after lacking six races with a damaged tibia in his left leg.
Polesitter Ryan Preece dominated Stage 1, main all 80 laps on his approach to win the primary part of the race, forward of Almirola.
Joey Logano, Crew Penske, Verizon 5G Ford Mustang
Picture by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Images
Taking an early command of the race, he held a 1.5s lead over Daniel Suarez after 25 laps.
With 21 laps remaining, Preece put reigning sequence champion Joey Logano a lap down, with the No. 22 Ford driver having began from the rear of the sector because of unapproved changes to his automotive previous to the race.
Stage 2 noticed Kevin Harvick’s four-tyre pit name lastly kick in, and he ran down Ross Chastain for the result in take his first stage victory because the 2020 season.
Preece led Suarez into the stage on the lap 92 restart, earlier than a warning 40 laps later as Harrison Burton spun round off Flip 2 after contact from Erik Jones and got here to a cease on the observe.
All of the lead-lap automobiles pit with Preece once more first off pit street however he, Truex and Wallace have been all penalized for rushing on pit street and needed to restart from the rear of the sector.
The race returned to inexperienced on Lap 143 with Chastain – who stayed out – within the lead adopted by Suarez and Almirola as Preece lined up 30th.
With 20 laps remaining, Chastain remained out entrance on previous tyres whereas Todd Gilliand ran second (he took solely two new tyres) and Harvick – who took 4 tyres on his cease – ran third.
Race winner Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
On lap 167, Harvick ran down each Gilliland and Chastain to take the lead for the primary time within the race.
Following the break between Phases 2 and three, the lead-lap automobiles all pit with Briscoe edging Harvick off pit street earlier than the latter was handed by Hamlin on lap 247.
After a number of laps of a side-by-side battle, Hamlin lastly acquired to the within of Briscoe and was in a position to clear him for the lead 10 laps later.
Blaney and Alex Bowman have been the primary to hit pit street on lap 298 to kick off a last spherical of inexperienced flag pit stops to tackle new tyres and gas to make it to the top of the race.
On lap 303, a tyre got here off Anthony Alfredo’s No. 78 Chevrolet and got here to a cease on Flip four which introduced out the fourth warning of the race.
Many of the lead-lap automobiles pit with Harvick first off pit street. Briscoe remained on the observe and inherited the lead. He led the way in which on the restart on lap 313 adopted by Larson, Tyler Reddick and Harvick.
J.J. Yeley hit the wall in Flip three on lap 343 to convey out the fifth warning of the race.
Most lead-lap automobiles pit however a number of stayed on the observe together with Logano, who inherited the lead.
On the restart on lap 355, Logano was adopted by Almirola, Hamlin, Stenhouse and Larson, who took on solely two tyres.
With 29 laps to go, Larson lastly acquired to the within of Logano and was in a position to clear him off Flip 2 to take the lead for the primary time within the race.
