Throughout the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, the resounding success of Kyle Larson has remained a constant. In March, it was in Las Vegas that Larson earned his first win of the season and his first for Hendrick Motorsports. And it is in Las Vegas that Larson will try to win again to ensure himself an instant berth in the next round of the playoffs.
On Wednesday, NASCAR released the starting lineup for the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, putting Kyle Larson on the pole for the first race of the Round of 12 by virtue of NASCAR’s qualifying metric, which sets the field based on an algorithm accounting for a driver’s finish and fastest lap in the previous race, as well as their points position.
Larson earned the top starting spot by virtue of a dramatic victory last week at Bristol, which saw him take the lead from Kevin Harvick in the closing laps.
Harvick starts fifth after his second-place finish last week, and he is separated from Chase Elliott by six spots on the starting grid. Both were the players in a heated post-race confrontation, as both felt they cost each other the win. Harvick made contact with Elliott in the race to the finish that resulted in a cut tire, and Elliott retaliated by holding Harvick up and allowing Larson to close in for the winning move.
South Point 400 starting lineup:
1. #5 – Kyle Larson 2. #12 – Ryan Blaney 3. #24 – William Byron 4. #19 – Martin Truex Jr. 5. #4 – Kevin Harvick 6. #11 – Denny Hamlin 7. #48 – Alex Bowman 8. #2 – Brad Keselowski 9. #22 – Joey Logano 10. #18 – Kyle Busch 11. #9 – Chase Elliott 12. #20 – Christopher Bell 13. #8 – Tyler Reddick 14. #21 – Matt DiBenedetto 15. #3 – Austin Dillon 16. #43 – Erik Jones 17. #10 – Aric Almirola 18. #42 – Ross Chastain 19. #14 – Chase Briscoe (R) 20. #1 – Kurt Busch 21. #23 – Bubba Wallace 22. #47 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 23. #34 – Michael McDowell 24. #37 – Ryan Preece 25. #17 – Chris Buescher 26. #99 – Daniel Suarez 27. #7 – Corey LaJoie 28. #41 – Cole Custer 29. #6 – Ryan Newman 30. #53 – Garrett Smithley 31. #52 – Josh Bilicki 32. #38 – Anthony Alfredo (R) 33. #77 – Justin Haley 34. #78 – B.J. McLeod 35. #51 – Cody Ware 36. #00 – Quin Houff 37. #15 – Joey Gase 38. #66 – J.J. Yeley
2021 NASCAR Fall Gear now available
The NASCAR Playoffs are on! As temperature drops, check out the new NASCAR Fall Gear. Get jackets and hoodies for your favorite drivers, including Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, and Bubba Wallace. Shop the latest arrivals here.
We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
