Kyle Larson got his 1st NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race win at Michigan International Speedway

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 28, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

Starting from 12th place Car 42 Kyle Larson Target Chevrolet won the 47th Annual Pure Michigan 400, his 1st win in 99 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. This is his 1st win & 8th Top 10 finish in 2016. This is his 3rd Top 10 finish in six races at Michigan International Speedway. Larson is the first graduate of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity and NASCAR Next programs to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. With the victory, Larson now cliches a spot in the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Chip Ganassi Racing ends a wins drought of 99 races, extending back to Jamie McMurray’s win on October 20, 2013 at Talladega. 2nd Place Car 24 Chase Elliott NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, started from 5th place posted his 2nd Top 10 finish in 2 races at Michigan International Speedway. It is Elliott’s 12th Top 10 finish in 2016 & he was the highest finishing Rookie. 3rd Place Car 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Ford, started from 18th place posted his eighth top-10 finish in 15 races at Michigan International Speedway.

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 28, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

4th Place Car 21 Ryan Blaney # Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, started from 7th place followed by 5th place Car 4 Kevin Harvick Jimmy John’s Chevrolet, started from 4th place. 6th Place Car 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Chevrolet, started from 2nd place followed by 7th place Car 19 Carl Edwards ARRIS SurfBoard Toyota, started from 9th place. 8th Place Car 1 Jamie McMurray Cessna Chevrolet, started from 8th place followed by 9th place Car 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Office Toyota, started from 3rd place. Lastly in the Top 10 was Car 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford, in 10th place, started from pole.

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, spins during an on track incident during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 28, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

The race had 4 Cautions for 17 Laps: 1st Caution on lap 22 for Competition. 2nd Caution on lap 27 for Car 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota spin in turn 4. 3rd Caution on lap 120 for Debris. 4th Caution on lap 188 for Debris.

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, lead the field to the green flag during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 28, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

The race 20 Lead Changes among 13 drivers: Lap Leaders: J. Logano 1-22; R. Smith 23; J. Logano 24-25; K. Harvick 26-57; M. Truex Jr 58-64; K. Harvick 65; C. Elliott # 66; B. Keselowski 67-70; J. Johnson 71-107; C. Elliott # 108; B. Keselowski 109-117; C. Elliott # 118-124; K. Larson 125-155; B. Keselowski 156; M. Kenseth 157-164; A. Dillon 165; R. Newman 166; C. Edwards 167; G. Biffle 168; C. Elliott # 169-190; K. Larson 191-200. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): K. Larson 2 times for 41 laps; J. Johnson 1 time for 37 laps; K. Harvick 2 times for 33 laps; C. Elliott # 4 times for 31 laps; J. Logano 2 times for 24 laps; B. Keselowski 3 times for 14 laps; M. Kenseth 1 time for 8 laps; M. Truex Jr 1 time for 7 laps; R. Smith 1 time for 1 lap; G. Biffle 1 time for 1 lap; C. Edwards 1 time for 1 lap; A. Dillon 1 time for 1 lap; R. Newman 1 time for 1 lap.

Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 28, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

Chase Grid Outlook: 1.B. Keselowski 774 (4 wins);2.Kyle Busch 696 (4);3.K. Harvick 799 (2);4.C. Edwards 724 (2);5.D. Hamlin 691 (2);6.J. Johnson 648 (2);7.M. Kenseth 633 (2);8.Kurt Busch 721 (1);9.J. Logano 716 (1);10.M. Truex Jr 652 (1);11.K. Larson 582 (1);12.C. Buescher # 334 (1);13.C. Elliott # 628 (0);14.A. Dillon 622 (0);15.J. Mcmurray 616 (0);16.R. Newman 601 (0).

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, leads Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 28, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

As I have said before if anyone was due to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race it would be Kyle Larson. The next person to watch for would have to be Car 24 Chase Elliott who lost this race with a Margin of Victory: 1.478 Seconds.

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 28, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

Kyle Larson & Bryan Clauson were close, Clauson was killed in a midget car accident on August 6 in Belleville, Kan. Larson said “I was teared-up that whole last few laps, because I could just feel it. It was finally going to be it. This one is for the Clauson family. We really miss Bryan. We’re going to miss him. We parked it for him, so that’s really cool. We had a lot of work to do for that first third of the race, and got it done. Thanks to Target, Thanks to everyone on this team. We messed up that last stop but we made it back.”

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Number 24
Unofficial Race Results for the 47Th Annual Pure Michigan 400 – Sunday, August 28, 2016
Michigan International Speedway – Brooklyn, MI – 2 Mile Paved
Total Race Length – 200 Laps – 400 Miles

Finish Start Car Driver Team Laps Status
1. 12. Car 42 Kyle Larson Target Chevrolet 200 Running
2. 5. Car 24 Chase Elliott # NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 200 Running
3. 18. Car 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Ford 200 Running
4. 7. Car 21 * Ryan Blaney # Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford 200 Running
5. 4. Car 4 Kevin Harvick Jimmy John’s Chevrolet 200 Running
6. 2. Car 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Chevrolet 200 Running
7 9. Car 19 Carl Edwards ARRIS SurfBoard Toyota 200 Running
8. 8. Car 1 Jamie McMurray Cessna Chevrolet 200 Running
9. 3. Car 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Office Toyota 200 Running
10. 1. Car 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford 200 Running
11. 22. Car 16 Greg Biffle Roush Performance Ford 200 Running
12. 19. Car 41 Kurt Busch Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet 200 Running
13. 13. Car 20 Matt Kenseth Dollar General Toyota 200 Running
14. 11. Car 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet 200 Running
15. 25. Car 47 AJ Allmendinger Kroger/Scott Products Chevrolet 200 Running
16. 17. Car 3 Austin Dillon Cheerios Chevrolet 200 Running
17. 10. Car 31 Ryan Newman Freightliner Chevrolet 200 Running
18. 20. Car 27 Paul Menard SYLVANIA/Menards Chevrolet 200 Running
19. 16. Car 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota 199 Running
20. 14. Car 78 Martin Truex Jr Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota 199 Running
21. 15. Car 14 Tony Stewart Mobil 1 Chevrolet 198 Running
22. 28. Car 13 Casey Mears GEICO Chevrolet 198 Running
23. 23. Car 10 Danica Patrick Aspen Dental Chevrolet 198 Running
24. 24. Car 6 Trevor Bayne AdvoCare Ford 198 Running
25. 26. Car 43 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford 198 Running
26. 31. Car 7 Regan Smith APC Chevrolet 198 Running
27. 29. Car 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr Zest Ford 198 Running
28. 30. Car 44 Brian Scott # Twisted Tea Ford 197 Running
29. 32. Car 23 David Ragan Dr Pepper Toyota 196 Running
30. 6. Car 88 Alex Bowman(i) Axalta/University of Michigan Chevrolet 195 Running
31. 35. Car 95 Michael McDowell Thrivent Financial Chevrolet 195 Running
32. 34. Car 83 Matt DiBenedetto Vector Security Toyota 195 Running
33. 36. Car 46 Michael Annett Pilot Flying J Chevrolet 195 Running
34. 37. Car 98 * Cole Whitt Chevrolet 194 Running
35. 21. Car 34 Chris Buescher # Dockside Logistics Ford 193 Running
36. 39. Car 55 * Reed Sorenson Vydox Plus Chevrolet 193 Running
37. 40. Car 32 Jeffrey Earnhardt # KeenParts.com/CorvetteParts.net Ford 192 Running
38. 38. Car 30 * Josh Wise Curtis Key Plumbing Chevrolet 192 Running
39. 33. Car 38 Landon Cassill MDS Transport Ford 174 Suspension
40. 27. Car 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Chevrolet 160 Running

Race Comments: Failed to Qualify: N/A. Time of Race: 02 Hrs, 27 Mins, 29 Secs. Average Speed: 162.730 MPH. Margin of Victory: 1.478 Seconds.

American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award: Kyle Busch, #18. Coors Light Pole Award: Joey Logano, #22 201.698 mph. Duralast Brakes “Brake in the Race”: Joey Logano, #22. Ingersoll Rand Power Move: Carl Edwards, #19 8 positions. Mahle Clevite Engine Builder of the Race: Hendrick Engines, #42 Mobil 1 Driver of the Race: Kyle Larson, #42. Moog Chassis Parts Problem Solver of the Race: Brad Keselowski, #2 P Wolfe, .240 sec. Sherwin-Williams Fastest Lap: Denny Hamlin, #11. Sunoco Rookie of the Race: Chase Elliott, #24.

(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series

Next Race: Sep. 4, 2016 – Darlington Raceway

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