Kyle Larson started Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol from the second position. And he ran top-two basically the entire first Stage.
In the closing laps, Larson found himself in the lead with Chase Elliott chasing him. While battling lap traffic, Larson was able to hold Elliott off for the Stage win.
Martin Truex Jr. finished the opening Stage in third, Kevin Harvick was fourth and Matt DiBenedetto ended in fifth.
Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones, Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch and Aric Almirola rounded out the top-10 finishers in Stage 1.
Jimmie Johnson, who is battling for a Chase berth, had issues. His playoff aspirations took a hit when Austin Dillon blew a tire in front of him on lap 80, which sent both drivers into the wall.
Johnson is two laps down in 28th.
