Kyle Larson finally breaks through, wins at Michigan

BROOKLYN, Mich. – Here’s a look at all the action and results from Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway:

WINNER: After several close calls and heartbreaking near-misses, Kyle Larson is finally a Sprint Cup Series winner. Larson won his 99th career Cup start Sunday at Michigan, outdueling Chase Elliott on the final restart -- after both drivers spun their tires -- to put himself into the Chase for the Sprint Cup with just two races remaining in the regular season.

Gluck: Kyle Larson fulfills promise with first Sprint Cup win

Larson, who restarted second on the inside lane, pulled out to the lead and held on over the final nine laps.

Larson was in a must-win situation heading into the final stretch before the 10-week playoff, and it looked like he would miss out on being part of the 16-driver field once again. But this time, Larson was able to close the deal and now puts Chip Ganassi Racing into the Chase for the second straight season.

Larson dedicated the win to his friend Bryan Clauson, who died Aug. 7 after being injured in a midget car race in Kansas.

”I was tearing up those last few laps because I was feeling that was finally going to be it; we weren’t going to have a caution," Larson said from an emotional victory lane. "This one’s for the Clauson family. We're really missing Bryan. We love you guys. We parked it for him so that was really cool."

Shortly after he celebrated his victory, Clauson's fiancée Lauren Stewart tweeted her gratitude and congratulations:

Larson, who received congratulations from team owner Chip Ganassi and several fellow drivers as he kissed girlfriend Katelyn Sweet and son Owen, sealed the win on the final restart. He had Elliott and Brad Keselowski pushing hard off the line.

“We both spun our tires really good. The 2 car -- he pushed me really good. He could have pulled underneath and got by, but he stayed with me and got me the lead. So thanks to him. I'm still  at a loss for words."

Ganassi had waited 99 races between NASCAR victories. Jamie McMurray was the last driver from his stable to win, at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2013. He has watched and waited as Larson, who was hailed as one of NASCAR's next great talents when he entered the top-tier series as a rookie in 2014, came oh-so-close to wins only to have something happen.

“He hung in there with our team," Ganassi said. "We've been building over the years. He came in here and the team rallied around him. I can't say enough about the kid and the job he's done over the last few years. It’s been a nice gradual coming through the pack. I couldn't be more happy with Kyle right now.

"We've been on the cusp for so many years. We got Jamie in there last year and now we got Kyle in there. We couldn’t be happier. That was a big one (to break the winless streak). I hate to put the onus on somebody else but I’m so glad. … To go winless for so long, it’s really, really difficult. Only one person wins in this sport. It's like golf. We're just so glad to be here.”

ENGINE WOES: With roughly 160 laps to go, Alex Bowman began having a problem with his ignition. Bowman, subbing for Dale Earnhardt Jr. - out for a sixth race with a concussion - in the No. 88 car, had been running well. He was in sixth place at the time – but quickly dropped outside the top 30 after the engine stopped performing at full strength. After 20 more laps, Bowman was forced to take his car to the garage. He returned to the race five laps down to the leaders.

BAD DAY FOR BUSCH: On a restart with 175 laps to go, Kyle Busch lost control of his car and spun out of Turn 4. He didn’t hit anything, but went through the grass and apparently had a flat tire. That required him to slowly drive around the track to pit road, which cost him a lap in the process. He spent much of the race just trying to get back on the lead lap.

Red Wings coach reunites with NASCAR driver at Michigan

FRONT ROW NIGHTMARE: Chris Buescher got himself into the top 30 of the Sprint Cup Series standings last week at Bristol Motor Speedway, which triggered a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff based on his Pocono win earlier this month. But that’s only if Buescher stays in the top 30, which is in doubt after Sunday. Buescher’s engine was flat from the start of the race, and he had to nurse the No. 34 car to the competition caution at lap 20 as he rode around in the back of the field. Fortunately for Buescher, 31st-place David Ragan didn’t gain enough to pass him. That means Buescher still has two more races to keep himself in the top 30.

Chase for the Sprint Cup bubble tightens with Kyle Larson win

SLOW STOP: Jimmie Johnson, who started on the front row for just the second time this season, was in contention until a slow pit stop - his gas man appeared to have trouble filling the tank - knocked him back in the pack.

STEWART SAYS GOODBYE: Tony Stewart didn’t have a memorable day during his final visit to Michigan. He was lapped roughly halfway through the race and was never a contender.

LOW-LOW DOWNFORCE: The race was the third and final tryout for NASCAR’s potential 2017 aerodynamic rules package and also the third straight race officials have used Michigan for a trial run. Last August, NASCAR tried a high-drag package (which turned out to be a bust); this season, both Michigan races had the low-low downforce package.

Follow Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck

Pure Michigan 400

Sunday's results from the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway (starting positions in parentheses):

1. (12) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 200.

2. (5) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 200.

3. (18) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 200.

4. (7) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 200.

5. (4) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 200.

6. (2) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 200.

7. (9) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 200.

8. (8) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 200.

9. (3) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 200.

10. (1) Joey Logano, Ford, 200.

11. (22) Greg Biffle, Ford, 200.

12. (19) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 200.

13. (13) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 200.

14. (11) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 200.

15. (25) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 200.

16. (17) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 200.

17. (10) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 200.

18. (20) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 200.

19. (16) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 199.

20. (14) Martin Truex Jr, Toyota, 199.

21. (15) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 198.

22. (28) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 198.

23. (23) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 198.

24. (24) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 198.

25. (26) Aric Almirola, Ford, 198.

26. (31) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 198.

27. (29) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Ford, 198.

28. (30) Brian Scott, Ford, 197.

29. (32) David Ragan, Toyota, 196.

30. (6) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 195.

31. (35) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 195.

32. (34) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 195.

33. (36) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 195.

34. (37) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, 194.

35. (21) Chris Buescher, Ford, 193.

36. (39) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, 193.

37. (40) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Ford, 192.

38. (38) Josh Wise, Chevrolet, 192.

39. (33) Landon Cassill, Ford, Suspension, 174.

40. (27) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 160.

Race Statistics

Average Speed of Race Winner: 162.73 mph.

Time of Race: 2 hours, 27 minutes, 29 seconds. Margin of Victory: 1.478 seconds.

Caution Flags: 4 for 17 laps.

Lead Changes: 20 among 13 drivers.

Lap Leaders: J.Logano 1-22, R.Smith 23, J.Logano 24-25, K.Harvick 26-57, M.Truex Jr 58-64, K.Harvick 65, C.Elliott 66, B.Keselowski 67-70, J.Johnson 71-107, C.Elliott 108, B.Keselowski 109-117, C.Elliott 118-124, K.Larson 125-155, B.Keselowski 156, M.Kenseth 157-164, A.Dillon 165, R.Newman 166, C.Edwards 167, G.Biffle 168, C.Elliott 169-190, K.Larson 191-200.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): K.Larson 2 times for 41 laps, J.Johnson 1 time for 37 laps, K.Harvick 2 times for 33 laps, C.Elliott 4 times for 31 laps, J.Logano 2 times for 24 laps, B.Keselowski 3 times for 14 laps, M.Kenseth 1 time for 8 laps, M.Truex Jr 1 time for 7 laps, R.Smith 1 time for 1 lap, G.Biffle 1 time for 1 lap, C.Edwards 1 time for 1 lap, A.Dillon 1 time for 1 lap, R.Newman 1 time for 1 lap.

Top 16 in Points: K.Harvick, 799, B.Keselowski, 774, C.Edwards, 724, Kurt Busch, 721, J.Logano, 716, Kyle Busch, 696, D.Hamlin, 691, M.Truex Jr, 652, J.Johnson, 648, M.Kenseth, 633, C.Elliott, 628, A.Dillon, 622, J.Mcmurray, 616, R.Newman, 601, K.Larson, 582, K.Kahne, 564.