Kyle Larson Spoils Toyota's Darlington Domination

Toyotas were dominant all evening long during the Southern 500 Sunday night, but Kyle Larson would come and spoil that party for his second Crown Jewel victory. 

Credit: DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 03: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, and Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Jordan Brand Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 03, 2023 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Toyotas led by Denny Hamlin absolutely DOMINATED Sunday's Southern 500 at Darlington. Even in the Stages Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Tyler Reddick scored a combined 39 Stage points with Hamlin winning both Stages.

With only the occasional pit cycle lap leaders really spoiling the party early on, the Toyota brigade led 307 out of 367 laps. Denny Hamlin led 177 until a loose wheel forced him to a 25th-place finish. Pole sitter Christopher Bell led 40 laps with 23XI's Tyler Reddick leading a runner-up 90 laps. 

But Hamlin's misfortune led to Kyle Larson scoring Hendrick Motorsports 299th Cup Series victory and the 500th for the Hendrick engine shop. Larson's win was also his first at the Lady in Black following 3 runner-up finishes at the track.

arson only led 55 laps, but they were the ones that counted. He snagged the lead from Tyler Reddick following a late race pit stop on lap 313 where he would lead all 55 of the remaining laps and lock himself into the Round of 12.

Overall Lap Leaders

1. Denny Hamlin  177
2. Tyler Reddick  90
   
3. Kyle Larson  55
   
4. Christopher Bell  40
   
5. Corey LaJoie  3
   
6. Kevin Harvick  1
   
7. ​J.J. Yeley  1
   

By: Tom Luttermoser