LAS VEGAS — Kyle Larson became the fifth different winner in as many NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Larson took the lead on lap 154 and led the remainder of the 200-lap race on the 1.5-mile superspeedway, beating Chase Briscoe to the checkered flag by 2.557 seconds.
The victory was Larson’s second at Las Vegas to go with three in the NASCAR Cup Series. In his first O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start of the season aboard the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, Larson collected his 18th series victory.
“I was a bit nervous,” Larson said. “I knew the 00 (Creed) and Briscoe were ripping the top. I tried it once, and I didn’t feel good up there at all.
“I don’t know — clean air just must have meant a lot today. So, glad I was able to get the lead when it mattered.”
Briscoe said a mistake cost him the race when he hit the wall and suffered a flat tire.
“Even with the adversity we were dealing with, I knew if we got a lucky break, we were going to hopefully get back up there,” Briscoe said. “Honestly, it wasn’t an unfortunate break with the tire — I think it was my own fault.
“I just drove it into the fence and cost myself. I had a lot of fun. It was certainly fun slipping and sliding around the race track. You could kind of run all over. I had a blast.”
Sheldon Creed, point leader Justin Allgaier and Sammy Smith completed the top five.
