Kyle Larson pulls away to win the History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Sprint Cup Series top rookie contender, Kyle Larson, was also a contender in the History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a Nationwide Series race that was complimented by edge of your seat battles and tense moments from the drop of the green flag. Larson topped veterans, Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch for the win.

The pole position was won by Kyle Busch, who led the race from the drop of the green flag and was seemingly in position  to dominate even after the first caution of the race on lap 24 when Ryan Sieg spun out in turn two. A quick clean up later, and racing resumed with Kyle Busch leading a fast Matt Kenseth.

Kenseth had worked his way up to the second position after qualifying seventh. It didn’t take him long to race his way past Kyle Busch into the lead on lap thirty. Only two laps after restarting for the first caution.

The race stayed green and Kenseth was able to pull away with a sizable lead while Busch’s car slowly faded off the pace.

Green flag pit stops started on lap 80, with rookie sensation Chase Elliot leading Regan Smith and Ty Dillon.

The second caution came out on lap 87 after Elliott’s right front suspension broke, sending him into the wall. After the initial inspection, Elliot drove his car behind the wall and kept it there until lap 117, relegating him to a 37^th place finish.

The race returned to green on lap 92, and Kenseth’s initially fast car grew incredibly loose, allowing Keselowski to blow by him for the lead.

The race was relatively quiet up until Keselowski and second place runner, Larson, hit traffic together on lap 119.

Green flag pit stops began a little early on 133, when JR Motorsports driver, Kevin Harvick, reported a vibration and a lack of rear grip. The problem ended up being a loose right rear tire.

Larson pitted for his green flag stop on lap 145 and quickly regained the lead.

On lap 170, the third and final caution flag of the race was waved when debris was reported in turn three.  All lead lap cars pitted and took four tires. Larson beat Harvick, Keselowski, Busch, Scott off pit road and quickly jumped to the front when the race restarted on lap 175.

Harvick fell back to fourth, relinquishing second to Keselowski and third to Busch. Keselowski, Busch, and Larson all ran very similar lap times up until Keselowski and Busch ran into lapped traffic, allowing Larson to jump ahead with a two second lead.

It wasn’t to say that Busch and Keselowski didn’t try as they surely did. Nearly causing a pile up when they went three and almost four wide fighting for second.

Busch never made it around Keselowski and finished third, Keselowski finished second and young gun Kyle Larson was able to pull away with the win.

Regan Smith took over the points lead  and now leads Elliot Sadler by 5 points and Chase Elliot by 28 points.

Other notable finishers –

Kevin Harvick – 4^th

Brian Scott – 5^th

Matt Kenseth – 6^th

Regan Smith – 7^th

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Barry Albert

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