Larson cashes in on $1 million pay day for winning All-Star Race
TRACK: North Wilkesboro Speedway
LENGTH: 0.625-mile oval
DATE: May 7, 2023
STARTED: 16th
FINISHED: 1st
STANDINGS: 8th (-66 points)
Kyle Larson’s previous two NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway (2019) and Texas Motor Speedway (2021) automatically secured him a spot in Sunday’s All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Friday afternoon, Kyle Larson was fastest during a 50-minute practice session. In the evening, the No. 5 HendrickCars.com pit crew competed in a pit crew competition for qualifying, scoring a fifth-place spot in heat race two for Saturday evening. During the second heat race, Larson earned the 16th-place starting position for Sunday’s All-Star Race.
Following the green flag Sunday, the 30-year-old driver raced in the middle of the pack. A caution occurred on lap 17 and while pitting for four tires and fuel under the yellow flag, the No. 5 driver received a speeding penalty, sending him to the rear for the restart.
After the lap 21 restart, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion maneuvered his way towards the front. In less than 35 laps, Larson climbed all 24 positions, taking the lead on lap 55. The No. 5 driver didn’t slow down then. Larson continued to further his advance gaining over a 12 second lead by the competition caution on lap 102.
During the competition caution, the HendrickCars.com driver visited pit road for four tires and fuel from his crew. He led the field to green from the inside of the front row for the restart with 90 laps to go. Following the restart, Larson defended the lead. He continued to hit his marks and defend the top position for the duration of the 200-lap race. At the checkered flag, Larson earned his third career All-Star win in his seventh start, tying him for second-most all-time with Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon behind Jimmie Johnson with four. The No. 5 HendrickCars.com driver also became the only driver to win the All-Star Race on three different tracks.
QUOTING KYLE LARSON:
“So much fun there. That was old-school whipping for sure. We had a great car on the long run there and was just thinking for sure there was going to be a caution. I got out to a big lead and I could see everybody's cars were driving like crap in front of me, but I cannot thank this (No.) 5 team enough. We were awful all weekend. Practice I was like the worst on 30-lap average, went backwards in our heat race yesterday. You obviously had some strategy work out there in the beginning, but we drove from dead last to the lead and checked out by 12 or 13 seconds. Then I just could pace myself there that last run. What an amazing car. Everything that my car did bad on Friday and Saturday did great today.”
NEXT RACE:
Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet head to Charlotte Motor Speedway to race the series’ longest-race of the season. The Coca-Cola 600 goes green at 6 p.m. ET on FS1.
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