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Larson ends 51-race winless streak with Enjoy Illinois 300 win

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 4:24 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Kyle Larson Wins

Kyle Larson won the Enjoy Illinois 300, ending a 51-race winless streak.
He led 80 laps and finished 0.333 seconds ahead of Alex Bowman.
The victory moved Larson to second in the Chase, nine points behind Denny Hamlin.
Hendrick Motorsports secured a 1-2 finish with Bowman second.
The event tied a record with 18 cautions and two red-flag periods.

Summary

Alex Bowman Retires

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports driver, dedicated his second-place finish to his late dog Finn.
Alex Bowman announced he will retire after the 2027 season, ending a decade-long Cup career.
William Byron earned his first top-five finish since July at Chicagoland.
William Byron called the result a “good shot in the arm” after surviving a six-car crash.

History

Historical Context

Earnhardt’s fatal crash on 18 February 2001 spurred NASCAR to mandate the HANS device (Oct 17 2001) and install SAFER barriers, reshaping car design through the Car of Tomorrow and later Gen-6 models. Those safety gains helped drivers like Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson, who ended a 51-race winless streak with a 2024 Illinois 300 victory, and Alex Bowman, who honored teammate Finn Brennan.

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Kyle Larson Wins

Kyle Larson won the Enjoy Illinois 300, ending a 51-race winless streak.
He led 80 laps and finished 0.333 seconds ahead of Alex Bowman.
The victory moved Larson to second in the Chase, nine points behind Denny Hamlin.
Hendrick Motorsports secured a 1-2 finish with Bowman second.
The event tied a record with 18 cautions and two red-flag periods.

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