2021 South Point 400
# 2021 South Point 400

The 2021 South Point 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on September 26, 2021, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas. Contested over 267 laps on the 1.5 mi (2.4 km) asphalt intermediate speedway, it was the 30th race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, the fourth race of the Playoffs, and the first race of the Round of 12.

## Report

### Background

Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada outside the Las Vegas city limits and about 15 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip, is a 1,200-acre (490 ha) complex of multiple tracks for motorsports racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

**Entry list**

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - |
| 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | Joey Gase (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 66 | J. J. Yeley (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| 77 | Justin Haley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Qualifying

Kyle Larson was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.

### Starting Lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 5 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 6 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 7 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 9 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 10 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 11 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 13 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 15 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 18 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 20 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 22 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 24 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 26 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 29 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 30 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 32 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 33 | 77 | Justin Haley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 35 | 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 36 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 37 | 15 | Joey Gase (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | 66 | J. J. Yeley (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race

Kyle Larson started on the pole for the race. Four cars (#10, #19, #24, #66) dropped to the rear for multiple inspection failures. Larson won stage one. Following an incident with Joey Gase only five laps into the run, most cars pitted with the four Hendrick Motorsports cars choosing to stay out. The Hendrick cars thought they were on the outside of the fuel window, but due to an extended caution the cars that pitted were able to make it to stage two. This forced the Hendrick cars to pit under green, forcing them a lap down. Chase Elliott was able to un-lap himself, and William Byron earned the lucky dog pass. Denny Hamlin won stage two and went on to win the race, beating Elliott by 0.442 seconds.

### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 80

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 10 |
| 2 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||

Stage Two Laps: 80

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 107

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 6 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 267 | 58 |
| 2 | 11 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 267 | 40 |
| 3 | 10 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 267 | 52 |
| 4 | 4 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 267 | 41 |
| 5 | 2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 267 | 39 |
| 6 | 13 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 43 |
| 7 | 8 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 267 | 35 |
| 8 | 20 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 267 | 33 |
| 9 | 5 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 267 | 34 |
| 10 | 1 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 267 | 37 |
| 11 | 9 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 267 | 32 |
| 12 | 14 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 267 | 27 |
| 13 | 15 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 266 | 26 |
| 14 | 19 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 266 | 23 |
| 15 | 26 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 266 | 22 |
| 16 | 21 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 266 | 22 |
| 17 | 22 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 266 | 20 |
| 18 | 3 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 266 | 25 |
| 19 | 17 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 266 | 18 |
| 20 | 29 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 266 | 17 |
| 21 | 23 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 266 | 16 |
| 22 | 7 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 265 | 15 |
| 23 | 18 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 265 | 14 |
| 24 | 12 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 265 | 13 |
| 25 | 25 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 265 | 12 |
| 26 | 16 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 265 | 11 |
| 27 | 32 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 265 | 10 |
| 28 | 24 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 265 | 9 |
| 29 | 28 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 265 | 8 |
| 30 | 27 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 264 | 7 |
| 31 | 35 | 51 | Cody Ware (i) | Petty Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 260 | 0 |
| 32 | 33 | 77 | Justin Haley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 260 | 0 |
| 33 | 34 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 257 | 0 |
| 34 | 36 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 255 | 3 |
| 35 | 30 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 254 | 0 |
| 36 | 31 | 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 252 | 1 |
| 37 | 37 | 15 | Joey Gase (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 84 | 0 |
| 38 | 38 | 66 | J. J. Yeley (i) | MBM Motorsports | Toyota | 76 | 0 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 21 among 10 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 4 for 21
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 2 hours, 46 minutes and 8 seconds
* Average speed: 144.643 miles per hour (232.780 km/h)

## Media

### Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns and Kelli Stavast handled the pit road duties from pit lane.

NBCSN :

| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dave Burns Kelli Stavast |

### Radio

PRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race from the booth when the field raced through the tri-oval. Rob Albright called the race from a billboard in turn 2 when the field raced through turns 1 and 2 & Pat Patterson called the race from a billboard outside of turn 3 when the field raced through turns 3 and 4. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan and Wendy Venturini handled the duties on pit lane.

PRN :

| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - | - |
| Lead announcer: Doug Rice Announcer: Mark Garrow | Turns 1 & 2: Rob Albright Turns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson | Brad Gillie Brett McMillan Wendy Venturini |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Kyle Larson | 3,096 |
| 1 | 2 | Denny Hamlin | 3,082 (–14) |
| 2 | 3 | Kyle Busch | 3,074 (–22) |
| 2 | 4 | Martin Truex Jr. | 3,070 (–26) |
| 1 | 5 | Ryan Blaney | 3,063 (–33) |
| | 6 | Chase Elliott | 3,061 (–35) |
| 2 | 7 | Joey Logano | 3,045 (–51) |
| 2 | 8 | Brad Keselowski | 3,043 (–53) |
| 1 | 9 | William Byron | 3,039 (–57) |
| 2 | 10 | Kevin Harvick | 3,036 (–60) |
| 4 | 11 | Alex Bowman | 3,030 (–66) |
| 1 | 12 | Christopher Bell | 3,018 (–78) |
| 1 | 13 | Tyler Reddick | 2,118 (–978) |
| 1 | 14 | Kurt Busch | 2,104 (–992) |
| 2 | 15 | Aric Almirola | 2,093 (–1,003) |
| | 16 | Michael McDowell | 2,044 (–1,052) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 1,103 |
| 2 | Ford | 1,033 (–70) |
| 3 | Toyota | 1,030 (–73) |
