Kyle Larson played it patient and smart, taking the lead on the final overtime lap to win an intense and drama-filled Featured Health 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Circuit of The Americas (COTA). The first road course event of the season earned high marks for close competition and aggressive racing.

Shane van Gisbergen and Austin Hill were battling hard for the lead coming to the white flag. As they went off-line jockeying for position, Larson saw an opportunity. He dove low in his No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, passing both van Gisbergen and Hill to snatch the lead and the win – the only lap he led all day on the 20-turn, 3.51-mile road course.

Van Gisbergen finished second on the track in the No. 97 Kaulig Racing Chevy, but was penalized 30 seconds for exceeding track limits battling Hill on the final lap, dropping him to 27th in the official results. That moved Hill’s No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet up to the runner-up spot.

“It feels really special because it seems like every time we’ve run the 17-car we’re always fast but somehow give it away,” said Larson. “I was just trying to be patient and when I saw them shoving each other, I thought this could get good.”

The closing laps were indeed wild, with van Gisbergen and Hill making significant contact multiple times fighting for the win. Neither was pleased with the outcome, their cars heavily damaged from the intense racing.

John Hunter Nemechek finished third, with Cole Custer fourth and Parker Kligerman rounding out the top five. Rookie Jesse Love had an impressive day in sixth.