NASCAR Cup Series: Larson returns to victory lane in chaotic race at Gateway

Credit: Patrick Vallely via NASCAR Digital Media

Kyle Larson ended a 51-race winless streak after a chaos-ridden event at World Wide Technology Raceway that featured seventeen cautions and two red flags.

As it unfolded

Joey Logano started on pole position for the second time this season, flanked by Kyle Larson. Ryan Blaney and last week's winner Christopher Bell started on row two. Logano had a good launch, while Bell moved into second on the first lap.

Tyler Reddick swiped the wall on Lap 3 but green flag conditions continued until Riley Herbst spun on Lap 5.

Joey Logano stretched his lead after the restart as cars spread three-wide behind him. Ryan Blaney took second place away from the dueling Larson and Bell.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spun on Lap 15, bringing out another caution.

Logano and Blaney led the field back to green on Lap 20, but the caution came back out almost immediately as multiple cars crashed on the back straightaway, including Daniel Suárez, Noah Gragson, Shane Van Gisbergen and Michael McDowell.

After the restart, Logano, Bell, Blaney, Hocevar and Larson held the top five spots.

Van Gisbergen spun in Turn 2 on Lap 28, bringing out the fourth caution. Austin Cindric, Denny Hamlin, Zane Smith and William Byron took the opportunity to pit during the caution period.

Following a Lap 33 restart, Christopher Bell put pressure on Logano, the two drivers putting distance between them and the rest of the pack. Logano held on to win Stage 1.

Stage 1 Results:

1. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske)

2. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)

3. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)

4. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

5. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)

6. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)

7. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)

8. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)

9. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)

10. No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing)

Credit: Patrick Vallely via NASCAR Digital Media

During the stage break, the leaders came to the pits, with twelve drivers staying out on track. Bell was the first off pit road.

Brad Keselowski and John Hunter Nemechek were on the front row for the restart. After a few laps under green, Ty Gibbs turned Erik Jones, bringing out another caution.

Herbst and A.J. Allmendinger wrecked on Lap 64, prompting a seventh caution. Keselowski gave up his lead as almost the whole field came to the pits, with only six cars staying out. Hamlin and Larson were the first off pit lane.

Ross Chastain and Erik Jones restarted in first and second, respectively, but Ryan Preece moved into second as Jones faded to fifth. Larson climbed back into the top three then passed Preece for second. Larson took the lead from Chastain on Lap 81. Chastain, Keselowski and Logano then battled for second throughout the middle of Stage 2.

Chastain came down pit road with 12 laps remaining in the stage. Moments after he exited the pits, the caution was thrown for Zane Smith. The incident ended Stage 2.

Stage 2 Results:

1. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)

2. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske)

3. No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing)

4. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

5. No. 21 - Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing)

6. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

7. No. 60 - Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)

8. No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)

9. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)

10. No. 23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)

Credit: Quinten Truitt via NASCAR Digital Media

Logano beat Larson out of the pits, moving him into first for the restart. Several cars spun in Turn 2. Bubba Wallace, William Byron and Chase Briscoe were among those involved.

Logano stormed ahead on the Lap 147 restart, with Keselowski moving into second. Denny Hamlin joined the top five, chasing Berry and Larson.

A brake rotor exploded on Ryan Blaney's car on Lap 155, ending his day and bringing out a caution. Larson and Berry stayed out on track, while Keselowski was first off pit road.

Chastain spun on Lap 170. Nineteen cars stayed out under caution, but Larson came to the pits. A fire ignited in Riley Herbst's pit stall but was handled quickly.

Keselowski pulled away with the lead ahead of Logano, Hocevar, Bell and Gibbs with 66 laps to go. Two laps later, Herbst found more trouble, making heavy contact with the wall. A 12th caution was issued.

Logano overtook Keselowski for the lead with 59 laps remaining. Inside the final 50 laps, Bell passed Hocevar for third.

The caution flag flew with 42 laps left after Noah Gragson got into the wall. Most teams opted to pit, including Logano, who took two tyres. Five teams neglected to pit, sending Keselowski back to the lead with Gibbs alongside.

There were 35 laps to go when green flag racing resumed. A wild restart saw Keselowski extend his lead as Gibbs dropped down the top 10. Chastain, Briscoe, Logano and Bell battled for second.

A heavy collision between Briscoe and Chase Elliott with 27 laps remaining led to another caution.

Keselowski and Logano led the field back to green with 20 laps left. Bell fell back to sixth, while Larson fought Keselowski for second.

Eighteen laps remained when a large accident collected Bell, Berry, Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace and others.

Logano and Larson controlled the restart with 13 laps left. They pulled away as more chaos erupted behind them. Numerous cars incurred damage, including Ty Gibbs, Daniel Suárez, Connor Zilisch, A.J. Allmendinger and Ty Dillon. A red flag was issued.

Larson, Logano, Alex Bowman and Brad Keselowski led the restart with seven to go. Larson was shoved by teammate Bowman, shooting ahead to the lead.

Chris Buescher had brake problems and hit the wall with just a few laps to go, sending the race into Overtime. A second red flag came out.

Kyle Larson maintained his lead after the restart and held it through the finish, ending a 51-race winless streak and capturing the first Cup victory for Chevrolet in 10 races. The win moved Larson into second in the points standings, just nine points behind Denny Hamlin. Teammate Alex Bowman had his best finish since August 2025, finishing second.

Provisional Results:

1. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)

2. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)

3. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske)

4. No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)

5. No. 1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)

6. No. 3 - Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing)

7. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (Trackhouse Racing)

8. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)

9. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

10. No. 2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske)

11. No. 41 - Cole Custer (Haas Factory Team)

12. No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing)

13. No. 43 - Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club)

14. No. 23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)

15. No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club)

16. No. 16 - A.J. Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing)

17. No. 60 - Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)

18. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)

19. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)

20. No. 71 - Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports)

21. No. 33 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

22. No. 51 - Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing)

23. No. 97 - Shane Van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)

24. No. 34 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)

25. No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)

26. No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak Motorsports)

27. No. 17 - Chris Buescher (RFK Racing) [DNF]

28. No. 21 - Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing) [16 Laps]

29. No. 7 - Daniel Suárez (Spire Motorsports) [DNF]

30. No. 10 - Ty Dillon (Kaulig Racing) [DNF]

31. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) [DNF]

32. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing) [DNF]

33. No. 4 - Noah Gragson (Front Row Motorsports) [DNF]

34. No. 35 - Riley Herbst (23XI Racing) [DNF]

35. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) [DNF]

36. No. 38 - Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports) [DNF]