
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Kyle Larson proved once again why he’s considered one of the most talented drivers in all of motorsports Saturday night, charging through the field late to win the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 14, 2026.
Driving the No. 88 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, Larson took control after a late restart and pulled away from the field to score the victory by 2.557 seconds while leading the final 47 laps of the race.
The win came after a competitive race that saw several drivers control portions of the event, including championship contenders Justin Allgaier, Jesse Love, and Taylor Gray, before Larson surged to the front in the closing laps.
Stage 1 Results
Justin Allgaier dominated the opening stage, leading the field and collecting the first stage victory of the night.
Stage 1 Top 10
1. Justin Allgaier
2. Sam Mayer
3. Chase Briscoe
4. Taylor Gray
5. Sheldon Creed
6. Jesse Love
7. Kyle Larson
8. Corey Day
9. Cole Custer
10. Brandon Jones
Allgaier’s strong early pace continued his impressive start to the season as he looks to maintain the championship points lead.
Stage 2 Results
Allgaier continued his dominance in Stage 2, once again finishing first and sweeping both stage victories.
Stage 2 Top 10
1. Justin Allgaier
2. Chase Briscoe
3. Taylor Gray
4. Jesse Love
5. Kyle Larson
6. Sheldon Creed
7. Corey Day
8. Connor Zilisch
9. Austin Hill
10. Carson Kvapil
With both stage wins, Allgaier banked valuable stage points that helped strengthen his lead in the championship standings.
Key Race Storylines
Larson Surges Late
Although Larson ran inside the top five for much of the race, he did not take command until the final stage. Following the last restart, Larson used the clean air advantage and superior speed of the JR Motorsports Chevrolet to drive away from the field.
Larson’s ability to manage tires on the long green-flag run proved critical as he steadily built a comfortable margin over the rest of the field.
Jesse Love’s Costly Pit Penalty
One of the biggest moments of the race occurred during a mid-race pit cycle when Jesse Love’s team was penalized after a crew member went over the wall to retrieve a loose tire that was out of reach.
Love had come off pit road first but was forced to restart deep in the field following the penalty. Despite the setback, he rallied to finish inside the top ten.
Chase Briscoe’s Strong Return
Chase Briscoe delivered an impressive performance in his limited O’Reilly Auto Parts Series appearance, battling near the front throughout the race and finishing runner-up.
Briscoe briefly lost track position earlier in the race after brushing the outside wall and suffering a tire issue but fought back to contend for the win late.
Late Caution Sets Up Final Restart
A late caution involving Taylor Gray helped reset the field and set up the decisive restart that allowed Larson to seize control.
After the restart, Larson wasted no time moving to the front and quickly pulled away from the pack.
Top 10 Finishers
1. Kyle Larson
2. Chase Briscoe
3. Sheldon Creed
4. Justin Allgaier
5. Sammy Smith
6. Jesse Love
7. Connor Zilisch
8. Corey Day
9. William Sawalich
10. Austin Hill
Larson’s win marks another strong showing for JR Motorsports, while several championship contenders continued to score valuable points early in the season.
Updated Championship Standings Heading to Darlington
After five races, Justin Allgaier remains the points leader as the series heads to Darlington Raceway next weekend.
Top 12 Drivers (Current Playoff Cut Line)
1. Justin Allgaier – 237
2. Jesse Love – 224
3. Austin Hill – 208
4. Sheldon Creed – 188
5. Carson Kvapil – 173
6. Sammy Smith – 164
7. Corey Day – 154
8. Rajah Caruth – 137
9. Parker Retzlaff – 129
10. Sam Mayer – 122
11. Brandon Jones – 120
12. Taylor Gray – 110
Drivers outside the playoff cutoff include Jeb Burton, Brennan Poole, William Sawalich, and Patrick Staropoli.
Under the current format, the top 12 drivers in points after Race 24 will advance to the nine-race championship battle.
Up Next: Darlington Raceway
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series now heads to Darlington Raceway, one of the most challenging tracks on the NASCAR schedule.
With the playoff cutoff already becoming a storyline just five races into the season, the “Track Too Tough to Tame” will present another opportunity for drivers to gain valuable points and momentum.
Don't forget to check out The S3 Podcast LIVE on our Youtube Channel every Wednesday at 7PM EST as hosts Jeff Demers and Marnie Tisdale break down NASCAR's "News and Notes" heading into every race weekend. You can also listen to our show recordings by going to The S3 Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

Sports Director for Sports Media X/Coach Jeff Demers
"For the past ten years, I've been deeply immersed in the world of Valley sports. I wear many hats, serving not only as a Sports Director but also as a journalist, photographer, podcaster, and the creator of the "Sports Media X" program, dedicated to building sports media brands. Beyond my sports endeavors, I'm a fervent entrepreneur and a business coach, specializing in marketing and sales for small businesses."

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