Pennzoil 400 highlights: William Bryon wins first two stages at LVMS

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Bryce Harper tells drivers to start their engines at the Pennzoil 400 Joey Logano talks about strategy before the Pennzoil 400 Ross Chastain recaps the start of the season before the Pennzoil 400

Viva Las Vegas!

The NASCAR Cup Series‘ March schedule kicks off Sunday with the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and we’ve got you covered with all the action from start to finish, exclusively on FOX and the FOX Sports App.

The 267-lap race covers 400.5 miles and is made up of two 80-lap stages, followed by a third and final 107-lap stage.

Here are the top moments!

Engines fired!

Las Vegas native and two-time MLB National League Most Valuable Player Bryce Harper was the grand marshal for Sunday’s Pennzoil 400. The Philadelphia Phillies star outfielder, a Las Vegas High School graduate, delivered the command for drivers to start their engines for the 26th annual Cup Series event. Just like that, things were underway!

“I’ve been a fan of NASCAR for quite some time now, so being asked to give the command, especially at my hometown track, just checks off another box on my to-do list as a fan,” Harper said.

Bryce Harper tells drivers to start their engines at the Pennzoil 400

Green!

Polesitter Joey Logano got off to an early lead with William Bryon and Ryan Blaney battling two-wide behind him.

Follow the leader

Byron soon took the lead from Logano on Lap 10, as the competition continued to heat up in the opening stage.

Making moves

Elsewhere, on Lap 17, Tyler Reddick, who didn’t practice or qualify after his team discovered an engine issue Saturday morning, surged to 16th place after starting last.

Meanwhile, Byron lost his lead to Brad Keselowski after going to pit road, while Kyle Busch made a little contact with the wall. Byron quickly regained the lead after the first round of pit stops, with Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain trailing him.

Stage 1 in the books

Byron took Stage 1 after leading 67 of the 80-lap opening stage. It was the first stage win of the season for the 25-year-old, who was followed by Larson, Chastain, Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin to round out the stage’s top five drivers.

No room for error

Byron, Larson and Hamlin were the first off pit road to get Stage 2 rolling.

Some contact from Daniel Suárez sent Chris Buescher into the wall early. Josh Berry, who was filling in for an injured Chase Elliott, hit the wall too.

Double trouble

Byron continued his dominance as the day went on, cruising to an easy Stage 2 win with his Hendrick Motorsports teammates Larson and Alex Bowman right behind him.

Christopher Bell and Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top five in the second stage.

Catching air

Byron, Larson and Bowman remained in the top three as the third and final stage began.

A nearby three-wide battle didn’t end well for Logano, who drew the first caution of the race after bouncing off the wall and sliding through the grass. The miscue ended the day early for the No. 22 car, which immediately went to the garage.

Hamlin led after the restart, followed by Bowman and Larson in second and third, respectively.

Stay tuned for updates!

PRE-RACE:

Setting the stage

Ahead of Sunday’s action, FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass gave fans an inside look at what was to come in Las Vegas.

Elsewhere, FOX Sports’ NASCAR crew spoke with pole winner Logano and Chastain ahead of the race.