NASCAR at Martinsville results, highlights: Kyle Larson storms back to take checkered flag at NOCO 400

Kyle Larson couldn't believe it.

The Hendrick Motorsports star has made plenty of NASCAR Cup Series tracks his home over the course of his glittering career, but one that had evaded him was Martinsville. The treacherous turns and slick straightaways of the paperclip-shaped oval made it difficult for the 2021 Cup Series winner to maneuver throughout the field.

Larson looked headed for another less-than-optimal finish Sunday. Until he wasn't. And when the field opened up, Larson made his move, blazing past everyone to capture yet another grandfather clock for HMS (now 28 all time).

It was an unexpected result, even for one of NASCAR's greatest talents. For much of the race's opening two stages, it seemed unlikely — Ryan Preece and Kevin Harvick won Stages 1 and 2, respectively, with relative ease. Larson was back in the pack, struggling to put himself into contention.

MORE: Why NASCAR banned 'Hail Melon' wall move for 2023 season

But things changed in the final stage, and soon enough, Larson found his way to the front. He was greeted by clean air after taking the lead with about 40 laps left.

Harvick had been felled by a blown tire, making it all fairly easy. Larson captured the checkered flag by more than four seconds over Joey Logano.

MORE: Watch NASCAR Cup Series races live with Fubo (free trial)

The Sporting News provided live updates from Sunday's NOCO 400 at Martinsville Spreedway. Below are highlights and live results as they happened.

NASCAR at Martinsville live updates, highlights from 2023 race

(All times Eastern)

5:54 p.m.: Kyle Larson wins at Martinsville!

5:53 p.m.: Larson in control. White flag is out in Martinsville. Larson's going to do it!

5:50 p.m.: Truex well on his way to his first top-five finish of tech season. Seven laps remaining and the Ford No. 19 sits in third.

5:48 p.m.: Speaking of comebacks, Logano has been a man possessed since the last caution. He's up to second, some distance away from race leader Kyle Larson, who stands  far ahead from the rest of the field.

5:40 p.m.: Truex and Wallace have worked their way back into the top-ten, an impressive showing given just how far back the two were after incurring penalties earlier in the day.

4:51 p.m.: And Hamlin takes the lead for the first time today.

4:50 p.m.: Briscoe not willing to gibe up an inch. Hamlin getting ahead of the No. 14 on the turns, but Briscoe keeps on taking control of the straightaways.

4:48 p.m.: Hamlin up to second. He pipped Harvick and finds himself just behind Briscoe for first. Still 147 laps remaining, so plenty of time for him to try to make a pass.

4:44 p.m.: Truex dropping like a stone. He's down in 30th.

4:42 p.m.: Elliott in the top-20. Looks like his team made the adjustments needed to fix the rear of the car, which has allowed him to fly up the track a bit in 20th.

4:40 p.m.: Been a very strong showing by Gilliland, who continues to impress despite being one of the younger drivers in the Cup Series picture. He sits in P8.

4:33 p.m.: Wallace, Preece and Kyle Busch all sputtering down the track. It's going to prove difficult to overcome those speed penalties on pit road, especially on such a short track like Martinsville.

4:30 p.m.: Denny is pushing hard. He's within a half a second of Briscoe out in P1. He's got five grandfather clocks in his household. None since 2015, however.

4:29 p.m.: Back to green for the final stage. It's a Stewart-Haas duo at the front of the pack: Briscoe and Harvick. About 200 laps to go from the Half Mile of Mayhem.

4:17 p.m.: Harvick capitalizes on Preece, Wallace and Truex's pitting errors, climbing up the track and earning his first stage win since 2020.

That was almost a very costly mistake for Ryan Preece. pic.twitter.com/Q8kQIHDcrK

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 16, 2023

4:13 p.m.: Harvick makes a move to slip past Chastain in first. 11 laps to go. Briscoe, Denny Hamlin and Reddick all have moved in front of the No. 1 as well.

4:08 p.m.: Aggressive play by Chastain, who found himself on the verge of going a lap down, has thrust him up the field. Plenty of clear air in front of him at P1.

4:06 p.m.: Bump and run between Suarez and Almirola, with the No. 99 pushing the No. 10 upstream. Almirola got it back shortly thereafter, though.

4:04 p.m.: Back to green at Martinsville. Larson in tight on Harvick, while Chastain sits atop the totem pole. Lots of reshuffling after the likes of Preece, Bubba Wallace and Martin Truex Jr. all incurred speeding penalties on pit road. Todd Gilliland charging, as well; he's up to P2.

3:55 p.m.: CAUTION! Jones bumps into the No. 21 car, sending Harrison Burton spinning. That isn the first caution for cause of the day.

Harrison Burton goes around. Here's what happened: https://t.co/bIJtVnTWus pic.twitter.com/VINeLxKq4T

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 16, 2023

3:54 p.m.: Alex Bowman making up serious ground. He's up to fifth and should find pockets of open space to make passes; it's the lap leaders that will have to displace cars that are a lap down.

3:51 p.m.: It's been a less-than-ideal showing for Chase Elliott, who has dropped four spots from his starting position. Didn't have the greatest day on Saturday, either; the No. 9 driver still has to shake off the cobwebs after his lengthy spell away.

3:43 p.m.: Almirola stuck firmly in P2, just half a second behind Preece. However, he might be having issues with his lug nuts.

3:40 p.m.: Preece will start in front for Stage 2, just as he did at the start of the race. However, things really could have gotten messy for the field; he nearly went into pit road, which could've led to a pile up behind him. Phew.

3:31 p.m.: Preece on pace to lap Ross Chastain. He takes his first ever stage win in the Cup Series!

3:28 p.m.: Suarez has fell behind a bit, dropping into fourth. However, Tyler Reddick is making a late charge, making serious speed up on the corners. He's just a hair behind Almirola for second. Looks like Preece will take the stage victory; he's led through all 77 laps. Just four to go in Stage 1.

3:20 p.m.: Stewart-Haas putting on as we approach Lap No. 50. Three of the top-five racers (Aric Almirola, Chase Briscoe, Kevin Harvick) come from Stewart-Haas. Promising signs early.

3:15 p.m.: Preece already finding a bit of lap traffic, having lapped Cindric. He's looked steady through 40 laps.

3:13 p.m.: Preece remains on top, having led all 30 laps thus far. However, Suarez has cut within a second of the No. 41 for P1.

3:08 p.m.: Little bit of contact between Ty Gibbs and A.J. Allmendinger as they compete for P15. Allmendinger has the advantage so far.

3:06 p.m.: Aggressive driving by Erik Jones and Austin Cindric around Turn 3. Looks like Cindric got the worst of it, wobbling as he made his way around the bend.

3:03 p.m.: And we're off! Preece and Suarez race out in front early.

2:59 p.m.: Ryan Preece takes his spot in the front row. Big opportunity for the No. 41 car to nab his first-ever Cup Series win.

2:53 p.m.: Engines are started here at Martinsville. The race for the grandfather clock starts soon.

2:46 p.m.: National anthem up next. Would rather listen to some Curtis Mayfield, to be honest.

2:45 p.m.: Race invocation incoming. What a distinctly American (weird) tradition.

2:40 p.m.: Memories...

"It just doesn't look real."

October 30th, 2022. Martinsville. @RossChastain. The Hail Melon.

A moment we'll never forget. pic.twitter.com/zGjiKTHa7X

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 16, 2023

What channel is the NASCAR race at Martinsville on today?

• TV channel: FS1 (U.S.) | TSN3 (Canada)
• Live stream: FoxSports.com, Fubo

The NOCO 400 will be broadcast on FS1 in the United States. Canadian viewers can follow the action on TSN3.

Veteran broadcaster Mike Joy will call the lap-by-lap action. He'll be joined in the booth by Clint Bowyer and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte.

Cord-cutters can stream the race on FoxSports.com, or with Fubo, which offers a free trial. 

What time does the NASCAR race at Bristol start today?

• Date: Sunday, April 16
• Start time: 3 p.m. ET

Sunday's race has a 3 p.m. ET listed start time, but pre-race activities are expected to push the waving of the green flag back to 3:11 p.m. ET.

NOCO 400 starting lineup 2023