Kyle Larson has scored his fourth win of the season with victory at Richmond as NASCAR now heads into its version of the playoffs over the final 10 races of the season.
On a night where many of the sport’s big names needed to win to make it into the Playoffs, the race had plenty of ups and downs for many crews.
It came down to a green-white-chequered finish with Larson’s crew getting him off pit road first and he got the jump as the green flag fell.
He kept things clean, while others behind tried to push their way forward. Even on the last lap Denny Hamlin and points leader Martin Truex Jr. came together and found the fence.
“I have the greatest team out here and the best pit crew, they were money all night long,” said Larson.
“This win is a huge congrats to them.
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“It came down to the last re-start there and after I cleared them into Turn 1 we really had what was needed to win.
“I am really pumped, I feel that going into the playoffs we have what it takes to really fight for this thing.”
Early on the race was dominated by Matt Kenneth, but his race hopes ended in strange circumstances.
In what can only be described as a comical scene, Kenseth’s race ended when under yellow the field came to pit road to find an ambulance on the entrance. All the leaders were bottled up and Kenseth slammed into the back of the car of Clint Bowyer in front of him and damaged the radiator.
All crews were left furious as the pit road was open, but the ambulance blocked the field, with many cars having to drive around the commitment cone.
NASCAR issued a statement saying that the ambulance did not follow direction from race control. All those cars that went outside the commitment line were not penalised, but that was little comfort for Kenseth; although he did qualify for the playoffs.
16 drivers have qualified for the Playoffs, with the first group of four drivers to drop-off after the first three rounds.
Of the leading drivers to miss the playoffs were Dale Earnhardt Jr, Bowyer and Joey Logano. Logano, who finished second in the race and did take a race win at Richmond earlier in the season. However, that earlier race win didn’t count towards the playoffs after his car failed technical inspection post event.
In the first season under this race format, Truex Jr. enters the playoffs as the top seed. He leads all drivers with four wins; worth five playoffs points apiece. He also won a series-best 18 stages (worth one playoff point each). Additionally, Truex is the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2017 Regular Season Champion. Winning the regular-season title adds an additional 15 playoff points.
VIDEO: Race recap
VIDEO: Incident with the ambulance
Qualified drivers for NASCAR’s Playoffs
| Pos | Driver | Team | Make | Race wins | Points after re-set |
| 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota | 4 | 2,053 |
| 2 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 4 | 2,033 |
| 3 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 | 2,029 |
| 4 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 2 | 2,019 |
| 5 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 | 2,017 |
| 6 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart Haas Racing | Ford | 1 | 2,015 |
| 7 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 2 | 2,013 |
| 8 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 2 | 2,010 |
| 9 | Ryan Blaney | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 1 | 2,008 |
| 10 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 0 | 2,006 |
| 11 | Ryan Newman | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1 | 2,005 |
| 12 | Kurt Busch | Stewart Haas Racing | Ford | 1 | 2,005 |
| 13 | Kasey Kahne | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 | 2,005 |
| 14 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1 | 2,005 |
| 15 | Matt Kenseth | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 | 2,005 |
| 16 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 0 | 2,003 |
RESULTS: Federated Auto Part 400 – Richmond Raceway
| Pos | # | Driver | Manufacturer | Laps | Laps Led |
| 1 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chevrolet | 404 | 53 |
| 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Ford | 404 | |
| 3 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Chevrolet | 404 | 4 |
| 4 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Ford | 404 | |
| 5 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | 404 | |
| 6 | 77 | Erik Jones | Toyota | 404 | |
| 7 | 19 | Daniel Suarez | Toyota | 404 | |
| 8 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet | 404 | |
| 9 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | 404 | 38 |
| 10 | 24 | Chase Elliott | Chevrolet | 404 | |
| 11 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Ford | 404 | 9 |
| 12 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Chevrolet | 404 | |
| 13 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet | 404 | 13 |
| 14 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chevrolet | 404 | |
| 15 | 95 | Michael McDowell | Chevrolet | 404 | |
| 16 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Ford | 404 | |
| 17 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Ford | 404 | |
| 18 | 21 | Ryan Blaney | Ford | 404 | |
| 19 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Ford | 404 | |
| 20 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Toyota | 403 | 198 |
| 21 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Chevrolet | 403 | |
| 22 | 13 | Ty Dillon | Chevrolet | 403 | |
| 23 | 10 | Danica Patrick | Ford | 403 | |
| 24 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Ford | 403 | |
| 25 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | Ford | 402 | |
| 26 | 47 | A.J. Allmendinger | Chevrolet | 402 | |
| 27 | 38 | David Ragan | Ford | 402 | |
| 28 | 27 | Paul Menard | Chevrolet | 402 | |
| 29 | 83 | Corey Lajoie | Toyota | 400 | |
| 30 | 55 | Reed Sorenson | Chevrolet | 400 | |
| 31 | 32 | Matt DiBenedetto | Ford | 400 | |
| 32 | 37 | Chris Buescher | Chevrolet | 400 | |
| 33 | 72 | Cole Whitt | Chevrolet | 396 | |
| 34 | 33 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Chevrolet | 395 | |
| 35 | 23 | Gray Gaulding | Toyota | 393 | |
| 36 | 15 | Derrike Cope | Toyota | 388 | |
| 37 | 51 | B.J. McLeod | Chevrolet | 318 | |
| 38 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | Toyota | 257 | 89 |
| 39 | 34 | Landon Cassill | Ford | 33 |
|
Pos
|
Driver
|
Pts
|
Behind
|
Wins
|
Starts
|
Top 5’s
|
Top 10’s
|
Poles
|
|
1
|
Martin Truex Jr.
|
2,053
|
Leader
|
4
|
26
|
10
|
17
|
1
|
|
2
|
Kyle Larson
|
2,033
|
-20
|
4
|
26
|
11
|
15
|
3
|
|
3
|
Kyle Busch
|
2,029
|
-24
|
2
|
26
|
10
|
16
|
6
|
|
4
|
Brad Keselowski
|
2,019
|
-34
|
2
|
26
|
11
|
14
|
2
|
|
5
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
2,017
|
-36
|
3
|
26
|
3
|
8
|
0
|
|
6
|
Kevin Harvick
|
2,015
|
-38
|
1
|
26
|
8
|
16
|
4
|
|
7
|
Denny Hamlin
|
2,013
|
-40
|
2
|
26
|
11
|
15
|
0
|
|
8
|
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
|
2,010
|
-43
|
2
|
26
|
4
|
7
|
1
|
|
9
|
Ryan Blaney
|
2,008
|
-45
|
1
|
26
|
3
|
9
|
1
|
|
10
|
Chase Elliott
|
2,006
|
-47
|
0
|
26
|
6
|
14
|
1
|
|
11
|
Ryan Newman
|
2,005
|
-48
|
1
|
26
|
6
|
11
|
0
|
|
12
|
Kurt Busch
|
2,005
|
-48
|
1
|
26
|
5
|
13
|
0
|
|
13
|
Kasey Kahne
|
2,005
|
-48
|
1
|
26
|
3
|
4
|
0
|
|
14
|
Austin Dillon
|
2,005
|
-48
|
1
|
26
|
3
|
4
|
0
|
|
15
|
Matt Kenseth
|
2,005
|
-48
|
0
|
26
|
7
|
12
|
2
|
|
16
|
Jamie McMurray
|
2,003
|
-50
|
0
|
26
|
2
|
13
|
0
|
|
17
|
Clint Bowyer
|
664
|
-1,389
|
0
|
26
|
5
|
10
|
0
|
|
18
|
Erik Jones
|
654
|
-1,399
|
0
|
26
|
4
|
11
|
1
|
|
19
|
Joey Logano
|
652
|
-1,401
|
1
|
26
|
9
|
12
|
1
|
|
20
|
Daniel Suarez
|
568
|
-1,485
|
0
|
26
|
1
|
9
|
0
|
|
21
|
Trevor Bayne
|
484
|
-1,569
|
0
|
26
|
1
|
4
|
0
|
|
22
|
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
|
459
|
-1,594
|
0
|
26
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
|
23
|
Paul Menard
|
438
|
-1,615
|
0
|
26
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
|
24
|
Ty Dillon
|
434
|
-1,619
|
0
|
26
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
25
|
Michael McDowell
|
421
|
-1,632
|
0
|
26
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
|
26
|
Chris Buescher
|
412
|
-1,641
|
0
|
26
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
|
27
|
AJ Allmendinger
|
395
|
-1,658
|
0
|
26
|
1
|
5
|
0
|
|
28
|
Danica Patrick
|
377
|
-1,676
|
0
|
26
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
29
|
David Ragan
|
325
|
-1,728
|
0
|
26
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
|
30
|
Aric Almirola
|
305
|
-1,748
|
0
|
19
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
|
31
|
Matt DiBenedetto
|
280
|
-1,773
|
0
|
26
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
|
32
|
Cole Whitt
|
259
|
-1,794
|
0
|
26
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
33
|
Landon Cassill
|
258
|
-1,795
|
0
|
26
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
34
|
Corey LaJoie
|
179
|
-1,874
|
0
|
23
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
35
|
Gray Gaulding
|
114
|
-1,939
|
0
|
20
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
36
|
Reed Sorenson
|
104
|
-1,949
|
0
|
20
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
37
|
Jeffrey Earnhardt
|
103
|
-1,950
|
0
|
24
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
38
|
Derrike Cope
|
36
|
-2,017
|
0
|
13
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
39
|
Michael Waltrip
|
29
|
-2,024
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
40
|
Billy Johnson
|
15
|
-2,038
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
41
|
Boris Said
|
15
|
-2,038
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
42
|
Gary Klutt
|
6
|
-2,047
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
43
|
Alon Day
|
5
|
-2,048
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
44
|
Stephen Leicht
|
5
|
-2,048
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
45
|
Cody Ware
|
5
|
-2,048
|
0
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
46
|
Kevin O’Connell
|
4
|
-2,049
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
47
|
Tommy Regan
|
3
|
-2,050
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
48
|
D.J. Kennington
|
2
|
-2,051
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
49
|
Brendan Gaughan
|
0
|
-2,053
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
50
|
Darrell Wallace Jr.
|
0
|
-2,053
|
0
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
51
|
Timmy Hill
|
0
|
-2,053
|
0
|
12
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
52
|
Elliott Sadler
|
0
|
-2,053
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
53
|
Ross Chastain
|
0
|
-2,053
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
54
|
Joey Gase
|
0
|
-2,053
|
0
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
55
|
Regan Smith
|
0
|
-2,053
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
56
|
JJ Yeley
|
0
|
-2,053
|
0
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
57
|
Ryan Sieg
|
0
|
-2,053
|
0
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
58
|
Carl Long
|
0
|
-2,053
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
59
|
B.J. McLeod
|
0
|
-2,053
|
0
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
60
|
Brett Moffitt
|
0
|
-2,053
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
61
|
Josh Bilicki
|
0
|
-2,053
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
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