Kyle Larson finally scored his first NASCAR win as a Sprint Cup driver in the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

Driving the #42 Target Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR), Kyle is in his third year as a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. He has shown in that time that he has the skills to be one of the sport’s future stars and has come so close to winning races in the past two-and-a-half years that many people (including me) have been surprised that he had yet to close the deal. Sunday (8/28) at Michigan International Speedway Kyle would finally turn the corner to vindicate his believers.

The Sprint Cup series took to the two-mile track in the shadow of the Motor City for 200 laps of racing. During the race the yellow flag waived only four times for a total of 17 laps. The final re-start put Kyle along side rookie Sprint Cup driver Chase Elliott, who was also looking to score his first ever Sprint Cup win. Both drivers spun the tires on old tires when the green flag waived. However, it was Kyle who gathered control of his car first to rocket out to the lead of the race. Kyle remained out front for the final ten laps to bring his total laps led up to a race high race 41.

Of course the only lap that really matters to be in the number one position in the final lap, and that is where Kyle was as he took the checkered flag in his 100th start in the Sprint Cup series. His win also broke a 99-race winless streak for CGR.

Chase Elliott held on for a second place finish with Brad Keselowski taking home third. Ryan Blaney grabbed a fourth place finish with Kevin Harvick just behind in fifth place. See the complete race results for the Pure Michigan 400 here.

Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski remain in first and second place in the point standings respectively. Carl Edwards moved up a spot to third place following the Michigan race. Kurt Busch fell back to fourth place with Joey Logano holding steady in the fifth spot. See the complete NASCAR point standings here.

The win locks Kyle Larson on the Chase Grid for NASCAR’s playoffs. That leaves just three spots on the grid filled based on points and no wins. That fact makes the final two races of the Sprint Cup regular season even more important to drivers who have not won if they want to be included in The Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship. See the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase Grid here.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup series heads to Darlington Raceway next for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 Sunday evening, September 4th.

By: Buck Stevens