Larson claims NASCAR’s opening playoff race and gets 1st career win at

DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Kyle Larson had led plenty of laps around Darlington through the years, just not the last one. He finally accomplished that Sunday with victory at the Southern 500.

Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, came into this event having been in front for 715 career laps at the track “Too Tough To Tame” without taking the checkered flag.

“This is a track I really enjoy, suits my style,” Larson said. “I just hadn’t won yet. Was good to do it today.”

Especially because it puts his No. 5 Chevrolet into the second round of the NASCAR playoffs no matter where he finishes at the two remaining first-round races at Kansas and Bristol the next two weeks.

Larson led the final 55 laps for his first career win at Darlington.

“Adding this trophy to the collection is amazing,” Larson continued. “This is one of three or four crown jewels.”

Larson didn’t have the fastest car at the Southern 500, just one that got out front at the right time while other contenders fell away.

Denny Hamlin led a race-best 177 of 367 laps and looked headed for the win before he felt vibrations for what he told his crew was a loose wheel and had to pit on consecutive laps.

“We controlled the race until we had some trouble,” said Hamlin, who won the first two stages. “That’s just part of it.”

Tyler Reddick led 90 laps, yet lost the lead to Larson coming off pit road. Kevin Harvick, seeking the first victory of his final season, challenged Harvick for the lead with less than 60 laps remaining, but was penalized when he could not avoid entering the pits moments after they were closed by NASCAR after a caution came out.

Harvick was penalized and couldn’t recover. He said he didn’t have time to get back on the track before the commitment line.

It was a successful run at the track for Larson after several close calls. He has had three seconds and two thirds in his 11 previous Cup Series races at Darlington. In May, Larson was racing for the lead late when he was hit by Ross Chastain and wound up 20th.

“This has been one of my favorite tracks my whole career,” Larson said. “Been really, really fast here my whole career, just usually in the wall.”

The victory was also the 299th all-time for Hendrick Motorsports and the 500th motorsports win for the Hendrick engine program.

Larson won for the third time this season and took his eighth race in seven playoff appearances.

Cliff Daniels, crew chief for Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet, said he and his driver have dealt with lots of Darlington heartbreak through the years and were glad to end that.

“This track and this race has been circled on our calendar for a long time,” Daniels said.

Playoff drivers took the first seven spots. Tyler Reddick was second, followed by Chris Buescher, William Byron, Chastain, Brad Keselowski and Bubba Wallace.

Harvick ended 19th and Hamlin 25th. The rest of the…