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Larson wins Stage 1 at Phoenix over Hamlin and Elliott

Kyle Larson picked up his sixth stage win of 2017 on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images

Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and Alan Gustafson
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Larson held a .516-second lead over Denny Hamlin. Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Erik Jones, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson completed the top 10. 

“My middle is turning pretty good right here,” said Larson, who led eight of the 75 laps. “Not as secure as my entry.”

Polesitter Ryan Blaney finished 14th in the first segment. Brad Keselowski was 18th. 

Blaney led the first lap but by Lap 2, Larson, Elliott and Hamlin were battling for second on the backstretch. Elliott took over second followed by Hamlin, Larson, Harvick, Kyle Busch, Truex, Kenseth, Jones and Joey Logano after five laps. Johnson moved into the top 10 on Lap 7.

Blaney led the first 10 laps. Keselowski moved up to 15th. On Lap 12, Elliott drove to the inside of Blaney for the lead entering Turn 3. Clint Bowyer passed Keselowski for 15th. Hamlin took second from Blaney on Lap 14 and Elliott laps his first car—Kyle Weatherman.

Larson passed Blaney for third on Lap 17. 

Elliott held a .293-second lead over Hamlin after the first 20 laps. Larson, Harvick, Blaney, Kyle Busch, Kenseth, Jones and Johnson rounded out the top 10. Earnhardt advanced to 11th followed by McMurray, Daniel Suarez, Clint Bowyer, Logano, Ryan Newman, Brad Keselowski Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne and Austin Dillon.

Hamlin caught Elliott on Lap 24, he went low on the backstretch on the next lap and completed the pass at the start-finish line. Jones passed Blaney for eighth. 

Hamlin extended his lead by .767-seconds over Larson, who passed Elliott for second on Lap 30. Harvick ran fourth followed by Truex, Kyle Busch, Kenseth, Jones, Johnson and Blaney. Keselowski dropped to 18th. McMurray moved into the top 10 on Lap 33. Kenseth took sixth from Kyle Busch on Lap 35.

After 40 laps, Hamlin held a 1.229-second lead over Larson. Elliott, Harvick, Truex, Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Jones, Johnson, McMurray, Blaney, Suarez, Newman, Bowyer and Logano rounded out the top 15. 

With 25 laps remaining in the stage, Hamlin’s lead was 1.468-seconds over Larson, Elliott, Harvick, Truex, Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Jones, Johnson and McMurray. Twenty-eight cars remained on the lead lap. Keselowski passed Earnhardt for 17th on Lap 57. 

By Lap 60, Larson had cut Hamlin’s lead to 1.313-seconds. Elliott remained third followed by Harvick, Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Truex, Jones, Johnson and Newman. Jones passed Truex for seventh on Lap 63.

With 10 laps to the end of the stage, Larson was .419-seconds behind Hamlin. As the leaders encountered traffic, Larson went to the outside of the Hamlin on Lap 68 entering Turn 1 and completed the pass for the lead. Elliott remained third followed by Harvick and Kenseth. 

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