Kyle Larson Dominates Food City 500 for Second Win of 2025
Kyle Larson continued his torrid early‑season form by capturing the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 13, leading 411 of the 500 laps en route to his second victory of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series campaign and the 31st of his career. The Hendrick Motorsports driver, who started from the third position, wrested the lead from polesitter Alex Bowman on Lap 40 and never looked back, crossing the finish line 2.25 seconds ahead of runner‑up Denny Hamlin.
Race Overview
The 0.533‑mile concrete oval of Bristol lived up to its reputation for high‑speed, close‑quarters racing, with Larson pacing the field after passing Bowman on Lap 40 and ultimately posting an average speed of 100.746 mph over the 266.5‑mile distance. Bowman’s pole‑winning lap of 14.912 seconds (128.772 mph) gave way to Larson’s relentless charge, which included winning both Stage 1 (125 laps) and Stage 2 (125 laps) before cruising to victory in the final 250 laps.
Key Moments and Incidents
Despite only three caution periods—the fewest at Bristol since 1982—and just four lead changes, the Food City 500 featured its share of drama. A multi‑car incident in the first 200 laps saw Shane van Gisbergen and Cody Ware tangle, bringing out the second caution. Pit‑road chaos struck during one green‑flag cycle when John Hunter Nemechek’s loose tire struck Daniel Suarez’s car, while Suarez’s crew allowed an old tire to roll into the path of another pit box; both teams were penalized for unsafe service.
Top Finishers
Larson’s victory bumped Ty Gibbs to third place, while Chase Briscoe and Ryan Blaney completed the top five, each maintaining a pace that matched the frontrunners throughout the race. William Byron finished sixth, preserving his regular‑season points lead, and Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, A. J. Allmendinger (fastest lap, 15.380 seconds) and Austin Dillon rounded out the top ten.
Driver Reactions
“Just a flawless race once again here for the No. 5 team—a really, really good car,” Larson said after climbing from his Chevrolet, reflecting on his ability to navigate traffic and manage his lead under pressure. Hamlin, whose bid for a third straight win ended in second place, was gracious in defeat: “You’ve got to give that team their due. It looked pretty easy. It took all I had to keep up there. I just wanted to keep him honest at the end, but he was too much to handle”.
Championship Implications
With nine races in the books, William Byron maintains a slim 30‑point cushion atop the regular‑season standings, despite finishing sixth at Bristol. Larson’s stage‑sweep netted him five playoff points, vaulting him into fourth place in the standings, 42 points behind Byron, while Hamlin sits second, 30 points adrift with two wins on the season. Christopher Bell holds third, 41 points back, positioning the early title contenders as the series heads to Richmond Raceway next weekend.
