2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Continues Winning Ways in 2022
The defending 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Kyle Larson, continued his winning ways at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday capturing the Wise Power 400. The win was Larson’s first of 2022 and his fifth win in the last seven races (2021 – Charlotte Roval, Texas, Kansas, Phoenix, 2022- California). The win is also Hendrick Motorsports sixth win in the last 7 races.
The level of curiosity for the Wise Power 400 was at an all-time high with the event being the first race on an intermediate speedway with the new Next Gen chassis (manufactured by Technique Chassis). The chassis lived up to the hype, with 32 lead changes among nine different drivers, and Tyler Reddick leading a race high 90 laps. Larson took the lead from Joey Logano on lap 194 and won by a mere .195 seconds over hard charging Austin Dillon. Over the last 21 laps of race, Larson and Logano swapped the lead four times, bringing the fans to their feet.
Overall, the race witnessed 12 cautions for a total of 59 laps with nine different Cup organizations finishing in the Top-10 Sunday showcasing the parity of the new Next Gen chassis.
The Pennzoil 400 from Las Vegas Motor Speedway starts Sunday, March 6th at 3:30pm ET LIVE on Fox.