On Saturday, Kyle Larson wins in an action-packed NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Circuit of the Americas in Featured Health 250.

Kyle Larson was ultimately both patient and smart taking the lead on the final overtime lap to win an aggressive Featured Health 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), the first road course test for the series this year that earned an “A” for high-drama and close competition.

Kyle Larson Wins in an Action-Packed NASCAR Xfinity Series Race at COTA

Larson was all smiles climbing out of his car, conceding he wasn’t surprised things got so aggressive at the end. He was one of the few cars – and only one among the leaders – to drop into pit lane on the final caution to get gas and had worked his way back up front.

“It feels really special because seems like every time we’ve run the 17-car – any of us four drivers – we’re always fast on track and somehow give it away,’’ Larson said. “Today I was definitely not the fastest, but we were patient. I knew the 21 [Hill] had shoved SVG [Van Gisbergen] through [turn] one and if he got to him it could get dicey.

“I was just trying to be patient. I was thinking when to make my move and when I saw him shoving him through [turns] 15 and 16, I thought this could get good and thankfully I cleared them off in that corner. Pretty crazy. Just wild there. … Really cool, just awesome to win here at COTA.’’

Shane Van Gisbergen versus Austin Hill

New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen and Austin Hill were duking it out for the lead – pushing each other high off the race line as the field approached the checkered flag. With those two fending each other off, Larson drove his No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet low around both and was able to pull away to a 1.215-second victory  – the only lap the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champ led all day around the 20-turn 3.51-mile road course.

Van Gisbergen finished second in the No. 97 Kaulig Racing Chevy but was assessed a 30-second penalty for exceeding track limits in that last-lap battle with Hill, which put him in 27th. So Hill, the driver of the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet is the runner-up.

The Featured Health 250 Results

Neither Van Gisbergen nor Austin Hill were too happy with the outcome – both their cars were damaged from the aggressive beating and banging on the final lap.

Asked if he would speak to Hill about the racing, Van Gisbergen said, “Yeah, I guess so.’’

SVG was mostly positive about having a chance to win in only his fifth NASCAR Xfinity Series race of his career.

“It was a crazy race and the car got better and better,’’ Van Gisbergen said. “On that last restart he [Hill] just drove through me in [turn] one. I guess I stood up for myself. But it was pretty awesome racing with [teammate]  A.J. [Allmendinger] and in the end just turned into a mess. That’s how it is.

“It was really fun. Wish I could have gotten through to the lead, but the car [Larson] just snuck through there. He was driving really well. A lot of fun.’’

Shane Van Gisbergen versus AJ Allmendinger

While Van Gisbergen managed a smile for the post-race television interview, he had to battle all afternoon – including with his Kaulig Racing teammate A.J. Allmendinger, a two-time winner of this COTA Xfinity Series race and the series’ best active road course driver.

They battled head-to-head for the final laps of the regularly scheduled race only for Allmendinger to get swept up and out in a three-wide attempt for the lead in the first turn during the first green-white-checkered flag period. He was running fifth at the time of the final caution that forced a second overtime start and ultimately finished tenth.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series Point Standings

John Hunter Nemechek finished third, reigning series champion Cole Custer was fourth and Parker Kligerman rounded out the top five. Rookie Jesse Love, Austin Green, last week’s winner Chandler Smith, Sam Mayer, and Allmendinger rounded out the top ten.

It was an impressive day for Green, son of former Xfinity Series champion David Green, finishing eighth in his first series start.

Big Machine Racing driver Kligerman earned his first stage win of the year claiming the Stage 1 victory.  Brandon Jones seemingly won Stage 2 only to receive a penalty for cutting the fifth turn on the last lap of the stage. Second-place Stewart-Haas Racing’s Riley Herbst was instead awarded the Stage victory – his first of the season.

Next Up

The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to competition next Saturday with the ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond Raceway (1:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Chandler Smith is the defending winner – earning his career first Xfinity Series trophy there last Spring.