Kyle Larson wins third Chili Bowl with flag-to-flag run in Tulsa

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion is now a three-time Chili Bowl Nationals champion.

Kyle Larson, who scored a victory on Monday‘s qualifying night to lock himself into Saturday‘s main event, won the championship A Main with a thrilling run at the SageNet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma to earn another Golden Driller trophy.

Larson started on the pole for Saturday night‘s feature thanks to his draw in the evening‘s Pole Shuffle. His qualifying night victory placed him in the Pole Shuffle, and by luck of the draw, he was the last car to take the track; he beat Landon Brooks to earn the pole.

Larson led every lap of Saturday night’s main event, but the win did not come without drama. With 17 laps to go, he made contact with a lapped car. With a few laps to go, he hit the outside wall on the fronstrestch but was saved by an immediate caution that allowed him to keep the lead.

Larson ultimately held off a charging Daison Pursley to seal the win.

Larson, 32, joins fellow Cup Series competitor and midget car racing rival Christopher Bell as a three-time Chili Bowl champion.

Larson‘s previous Chili Bowl triumphs arrived back-to-back in 2020-21. His maiden victory ended a 12-year winless streak at the Midget Car nationals un Tulsa.