Kyle Larson, who qualified eighth, battled a “super loose on entry” condition in his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 early in Saturday night’s 400-lap event at Martinsville Speedway. With no cautions in the first stage, Larson fell to 14th before the stage ended at lap 80.
During the stage break, No. 5 crew chief Cliff Daniels called for a chassis adjustment during the four-tire stop. Larson restarted 14th and maneuvered up to 11th by lap 107. While again battling a loose condition on his No. 5 entry, he was able to maintain that position through the end of the stage at lap 180.
Daniels again called for adjustments during the stage break caution, and Larson restarted the final stage in 11th. His move up the scoring pylon was slow and steady – the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion was scored seventh as the race approached the 300-lap mark. But Larson sped on pit road during his green-flag pit stop at lap 301 and was forced to make an additional drive-through on pit road as a penalty. He lost a lap to the leaders during that exchange and returned in 21st. When a caution waved at lap 394, Larson was scored 19th – the first car one lap down. That allowed him the “free pass” onto the lead lap, but the Elk Grove, California, native was not able to gain any more positions before the checkered flag waved.
Larson now sits 13th in the standings after eight races.
QUOTING KYLE LARSON:
“We were real loose early, but got the car much better as the race went on. I just lost track of my lights (on dashboard that help with speed limits on pit road) and it cost us tonight. I hate that it happened. We’ll see what we can do on the dirt next week in Bristol.”
NEXT RACE:
Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet team will head to Bristol Motor Speedway for the season’s only dirt race. The 500-lap race takes place Sunday, April 17 and begins at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on FOX.
AdChoices