Cup Series Recap: 2021 Bass Pro Shops Night Race (Bristol Motor Speedway)
Kyle Larson clinched victory after starting 5th, with impressive performance metrics. Kevin Harvick and William Byron also showed strong finishes, while incidents affected Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin.
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What follows is an AI-generated commentary based on the race results and statistics. I find it useful to glance at. You can view more statistics at the Lap Raptor race page for this race. For more data, head over there.
The race saw Kyle Larson secure first place after starting from the 5th position, marking a significant performance improvement with a gain rating of 5.53. He led the field with an average running position (ARP) of 2.53 over the event’s 500 laps. The race was a statistical bonanza for Larson, leading a significant number of laps after taking control from Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin at different points. Larson’s ability to maintain top positions contributed heavily to his strong finish.
Kevin Harvick, starting from the 4th spot, finished in second place with an ARP of 3.57 and a gain rating of 3.49. Harvick led for a good portion of the later stages, specifically laps 255-496, but could not hold off Larson in the final laps. William Byron capitalized on race incidents to move from 14th to a 3rd place finish, indicating a wild shift in his performance compared to his start. Byron's ARP of 7.57 aligns with his final outcome, highlighting consistent mid-field strength.
Notable recoveries include Ryan Blaney moving from 7th to 4th with an ARP of 4.87 and a gain rating of 3.51. Chase Elliott led for a significant part of the early race but dropped to 25th due to the incident on Lap 401, affecting his average position of 7.04. Incidents like the Lap 389 accident also impacted drivers like Denny Hamlin, who concluded at 9th despite a strong early showing and an ARP of 5.47, showing how late-race cautions can spoil a driver's average performance.