NASCAR Las Vegas: Bowman wins dramatic two-lap shootout

Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. were battling back-and-forth for the win when a caution for a wreck with two laps remaining sent the race into overtime, opening up the chance for Bowman to strike.

All the lead-lap cars pitted but three Hendrick Motorsports drivers – Kyle Larson, Bowman and William Byron – only took two tyres and lined up in the top three spots on the restart, while Kyle Busch, restarted fourth as the frontrunner with four new tyres.

Bowman and Larson raced side-by-side on the first lap overtime, essentially holding up the field behind them, before Bowman finally cleared Larson for the lead on the last lap and held on for the win by 0.178 seconds.

The win is the first for Bowman in the 2022 season and second consecutive for Hendrick Motorsports after Larson’s triumph last weekend at Fontana, while it marks Bowman’s seventh career win in the Cup.

“This thing was so fast all day. Never had the track position we needed to show it,” Bowman said. “Man, what a call by Greg Ives [crew chief] and the guys to take two [tyres] there [on the last stop]. Obviously, it paid off.

“Racing Kyle is always fun. Got to race him for a couple wins. We’ve always raced each other super clean and super respectfully.

“I just can’t say enough about these guys. It’s been a pretty awful start to the year, so to come out here and get a win on a last restart deal is pretty special.”

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro

Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images

Ross Chastain produced his own late attack to grab third place ahead of Kyle Busch, as Byron was shuffled back to fifth in overtime.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Aric Almirola continued his solid start to 2022 with sixth place, following up the same result last weekend in Fontana and his fifth place at the Daytona 500.

Tyler Reddick secured seventh place for Richard Childress Racing ahead of a disappointed Truex who lost out in overtime, as 2020 NASCAR Cup champion Chase Elliott and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell complete the top 10.

The 2022 NASCAR Cup season continues next weekend with the fourth round at Phoenix Raceway on 13 March.

NASCAR Las Vegas - race results

Cla	Driver		Manufacturer	Laps	Gap
1	Alex Bowman		Chevrolet	274
2	Kyle Larson		Chevrolet	274	0.178
3	Ross Chastain		Chevrolet	274	0.264
4	Kyle Busch		Toyota	274	0.271
5	William Byron		Chevrolet	274	0.419
6	Aric Almirola		Ford	274	0.829
7	Tyler Reddick		Chevrolet	274	0.868
8	Martin Truex Jr.		Toyota	274	0.887
9	Chase Elliott		Chevrolet	274	0.922
10	Christopher Bell		Toyota	274	0.939
11	Austin Dillon		Chevrolet	274	1.119
12	Kevin Harvick		Ford	274	1.135
13	Kurt Busch		Toyota	274	1.247
14	Joey Logano		Ford	274	1.452
15	Corey Lajoie		Chevrolet	274	1.538
16	Harrison Burton		Ford	274	1.817
17	Justin Haley		Chevrolet	274	1.831
18	Chris Buescher		Ford	274	5.219
19	Austin Cindric		Ford	274	6.032
20	Ty Dillon		Chevrolet	274	7.060
21	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.		Chevrolet	274	7.079
22	Daniel Hemric		Chevrolet	274	7.141
23	Todd Gilliland		Ford	274	7.534
24	Brad Keselowski		Ford	273	1 Lap
25	Bubba Wallace		Toyota	273	1 Lap
26	Cody Ware		Ford	273	1 Lap
27	Michael McDowell		Ford	273	1 Lap
28	B.J. McLeod		Ford	272	2 Laps
29	Josh Bilicki		Chevrolet	271	3 Laps
30	Garrett Smithley		Ford	267	7 Laps
31	Erik Jones		Chevrolet	264	10 Laps
32	Denny Hamlin		Toyota	219	55 Laps
33	Cole Custer		Ford	171	103 Laps
34	Greg Biffle		Chevrolet	148	126 Laps
35	Chase Briscoe		Ford	135	139 Laps
36	Ryan Blaney		Ford	104	170 Laps
37	Daniel Suarez		Chevrolet	92	182 Laps
View full results