{"id":9084,"date":"2021-05-16T19:27:24","date_gmt":"2021-05-16T23:27:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=9084"},"modified":"2022-07-22T12:09:49","modified_gmt":"2022-07-22T16:09:49","slug":"three-big-stories-dover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2021\/05\/16\/three-big-stories-dover\/","title":{"rendered":"Three big stories: Dover"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some things never change at the Monster Mile.<\/p>\n

The NASCAR Cup Series entered mid-season form with 400 miles at Dover International Speedway. Hendrick Motorsports put on a statement drive with a 1-2-3-4 finish. Moreover,\u00a0Alex Bowman<\/strong> takes next step of development<\/a>\u00a0with victory at Dover<\/a>? Finally,\u00a0Kyle Larson<\/strong> comes up short, after yet another dominant drive.<\/p>\n

Without further adieu, let’s dive in.<\/p>\n

Three big stories: Dover<\/h2>\n

A statement drive by Hendrick Motorsports<\/h3>\n
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DOVER, Del. – MAY 16: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 NationsGuard Chevrolet, races during the NASCAR Cup Series Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway on May 16, 2021, in Dover, Delaware. Photo: James Gilbert\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When one of your drivers takes the checkered flag, that’s a good day. When two of them finish first and second, that’s a great day. Three of them finishing on the podium is an excellent day.<\/p>\n

All four drivers finishing 1-2-3-4? That’s an absolute statement.<\/p>\n

Bowman, Larson,\u00a0Chase Elliott<\/strong> and\u00a0William Byron<\/strong> completed just the fourth 1-2-3-4 finish by a single organization in NASCAR Cup Series history, and the first since Roush Fenway Racing did so at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2005.<\/p>\n

And it wasn’t due to a late restart or late cautions. All but Elliott led 382 of the 400 laps, with Larson leading 263.<\/p>\n

And all of this came at the Monster Mile. A track that’s probably one of the toughest, physically speaking, on drivers that NASCAR goes to.<\/p>\n

It’s the kind of statement race that people look back on and realize it was the start of a run of excellence.<\/p>\n

Three big stories: Dover<\/h2>\n

Alex Bowman takes next step of development?<\/h3>\n
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DOVER, Del. – MAY 16: Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, does a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway on May 16, 2021, in Dover, Delaware. Photo: James Gilbert\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After Bowman won at Richmond, I pondered if it meant Bowman was on the verge of a breakout. Now, I still can’t say for certain.<\/p>\n

Yes, he scored his second win of the season. Yes, he earned his first multi-win season. But the winning pass came not on track, but on pit road.\u00a0Thanks his pit crew delivering the fastest pit stop of the season, Bowman exited pit road ahead of Larson under the fifth caution.<\/p>\n

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DYK: @Alex_Bowman<\/a>'s pit stop on Lap 304 that gained him the lead was 12.1776 seconds, per Racing Insights. <\/p>\n

That's the fastest pit stop of the season in the NASCAR Cup Series. pic.twitter.com\/HvwrBV5qhS<\/a><\/p>\n

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 16, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n