Larson, No. 5 team overcome adversity in Austin to finish in top 15
TRACK: Circuit of the Americas
LENGTH: 3.41-mile road course
DATE: Mar. 26, 2023
STARTED: 13th
FINISHED: 14th
STANDINGS: 27th (-141 points)
In our second Home race of the season, Kyle Larson started and finished the first road course race of 2023 in the top 15 at Austin, Texas’ Circuit of the Americas.
STORES: AUSTIN, TEXAS DEALERSHIPS
Larson started 13th and was quickly into the top 10 just one lap into the race. While running in the top 10, contact from Bubba Wallace in turn 12 saw Larson spin. Minutes later, he spun again with Denny Hamlin making contact with the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet. Larson fell back to 29th and was stopped on track, so the caution came out. He pitted under yellow for four tires, fuel and to assess the damage to his car. The team told Larson the car was fine and he finished the stage in 35th.
In stage two, Larson picked up 12 spots in the first four laps. While battling Ryan Blaney for position, the two made contact before Larson rejoined the top 20 on lap 20. By lap 23, with green flag stops unfolding for those on a different strategy, Larson was up into the top 10. While running fifth, he spun in turn nine and then had Erik Jones all over him for seventh with one to go in the stage. Larson was able to finish seventh in the stage to score four stage points.
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One lap into the final stage, Larson pitted from seventh, but was caught speeding entering the pits. This resulted in a pass-thru penalty that left him in 30th. The 2021 Cup Series champion was scored in 24th on lap 42 when the caution was out. After pitting his HendrickCars.com Chevy for service and restarting 21st on lap 44, Larson made big moves early in the run to get back into the top 15. However, a broken toe link on lap 49 led to him being slow on track and extensive repairs on pit road. He came out of the pits two laps down and in 35th. The attrition of the race, though, helped Larson gain a few spots and eventually with numerous cautions late, get back on the lead lap for the third and final overtime attempt. After interim crew chief Kevin Meendering had his driver pit for tires and fuel, Larson restarted 31st and drove up to 14th in the final two laps.
QUOTING KYLE LARSON:
"We got very lucky, really. Thankfully Jesse (Saunders, Car Chief) and the guys (No. 5 team) fixed the toe link and we only lost two laps. Then we got lucky when we got two quick cautions on green-white checkers and that got us on the lead lap. (I) really just avoided wrecks. My car was fast and we got unlucky early, made mistakes after that, and then ended up getting lucky in the end.”
NEXT RACE:
Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet head east for their third consecutive Home race of the season. The 400-lap race at Richmond Raceway takes place Sunday, April 2 and will broadcast live at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
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