Late-race spin, tire issue halt Larson's forward progress in final stage at Atlanta
TRACK: Atlanta Motor Speedway
LENGTH: 1.54-mile oval
DATE: July 2, 2023
STARTED: 8th
FINISHED: 36th
STANDINGS: 8th (-97 points)
Just down the road from our nine dealerships in the vicinity of Atlanta Motor Speedway, Kyle Larson began the 400-mile showdown from eighth and muscled his way into the top five by the first caution on lap 17.
The HendrickCars.com driver stayed out when pit road opened and took the inside for the restart with 37 laps to go in the stage. Following the restart and approaching the second half of the first stage, Larson settled into the fourth position. He continued to race predominantly amongst the top-five drivers. With less than five laps to go in the stage, Larson battled intensely advancing to the runner-up position to score a second-place finish and stage points in the first stage.
During the stage break, the Elk Grove, California native came to the attention of his pit crew for four tires and fuel. Following a fast pit stop from the five-man crew, Larson won the race off of pit road and took the lead to guide the field back to green for the start of the second stage. Larson maintained a top-five position until the second caution of the day occurred 13 laps after the restart. Under the yellow, Larson made a quick stop for fuel only and chose the outside lane in 10th for the restart with 75 laps to go in the stage.
The 2021 champion raced amongst the top 15 until his right-rear tire went flat on lap 92, causing a caution. Larson then went a lap down and visited pit road for four tires, an inspection of damage from his team and repairs. Thirteen laps after the restart, the HendrickCars.com Chevy unfortunately blew another tire, ultimately taking him out of the race early and scoring a 36th-place finish as a result.
QUOTING KYLE LARSON:
“Yeah, on the spin – I haven’t seen a replay, but I think I was just late and slow to protect the top, and the No. 43 (Erik Jones) must have been just really close to me and got me loose. I spun and got the flat. And then I thought we were going to get lucky enough to just be able to drive right to my pit stall and change the tire. We changed the right-rear and didn’t get the right-front changed. And then that exploded on the apron and I had to lose a lap for the damage. Just had a little bit of a tire rub still and ultimately it just ended up giving out and I got into the wall.
Hate that I made the mistake there to put us in this position, but I was having fun up until the spin. I thought I was doing a decent job – finishing second in the stage. Just wish I could have got to the end. Most of the time I feel like it's other peoples’ fault why I DNF, but tonight it was my fault. Little bit of a bummer.”
NEXT RACE:
Larson and the No. 5 team head north to compete at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 16 The 301-lap race goes green at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA.
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