TRACK: Phoenix Raceway
LENGTH: 1.0-mile
DATE: Oct. 29, 2023
STARTED: 4th
FINISHED: 3rd
STANDINGS: 2nd
This weekend, Kyle Larson made his second appearance in the Championship 4 with Hendrick Motorsports, competing for the series’ ultimate title at Phoenix Raceway. On Saturday during qualifying, the 31-year-old advanced to the final round and secured a fourth-place starting position for Sunday’s race, second best of the four drivers in the running for the title.
Following the green flag of the 312-mile race in the Arizona desert, Larson quickly gained track position. By halfway through the first stage, Larson continued to defend the third position. Eager to advance further, crew chief Cliff Daniels and Larson began discussing the handling of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Larson reported a lack of grip as the run progressed, which caused him to lose a few positions in the second half of the stage. Daniels assured Larson that adjustments would be made soon and informed him that for the last 35 laps of the 60-lap stage, he held the same lap times as the leader. Larson finished stage one in the fifth position.
During the stage break, Larson came to the attention of his pit crew for four tires and fuel with air pressure adjustments. The five-man over the wall team gained one position on pit road, placing Larson fourth for the start of the second stage. For the first 30 laps of this segment, the Elk Grove, California, driver trailed behind Championship 4 driver and Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron and defended the fourth position ahead of the other Championship 4 drivers (Christopher Bell and Ryan Blaney). The No. 5 driver then slipped back to the sixth position before a caution occurred on lap 208 that ultimately took Bell out of contingency for the championship. Under the yellow, Larson made a pit stop for four tires and fuel with adjustments to slightly free up his Chevy. He gained a position on pit road again and chose fifth for the restart with 69 laps to go in the second stage. For the remainder of the stage, Larson raced mostly in direct company with the two remaining Championship 4 drivers (Byron and Blaney). He reported a lack of grip in his right-rear tire in the final laps and scored seventh in the middle stage.
In between stages under caution, the HendrickCars.com pit crew serviced Larson’s Chevy for fuel and four-tires with adjustments, gaining three positions on pit road. The fast stop allowed the No. 5 driver to restart fourth for the beginning of stage three. He maintained a top-five position for the next 48 laps, until coming down pit road under green flag conditions for fuel and four tires with adjustments on lap 242. Larson quickly found his way back in the top five but struggled to find “clean air” to advance further. A late race caution occurred with 37 laps to go. Under the yellow, Daniels ordered Larson to pit road for four tires and fuel and his pit crew earned him an additional spot on pit road. Larson then restarted third with 31 laps to go. Following the last restart of the finale race, Larson settled into the runner-up position, but first amongst the Championship 4 cars. With 21 laps to go, he fell to the third position behind Blaney. At the checkered flag, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion finished second amongst the Championship 4 cars and third overall.
QUOTING KYLE LARSON:
“Our pit crew and pit road really kept us in the game. We weren't the greatest on the track, but I was just hoping for pit stops because I knew the way our team executed our lights, the way our pit crew can execute a fast pit stop… I knew that was going to be our only shot really to win.
They did everything in their power to give us the winning job done there. Huge thank you to them. I needed to come out the leader on that restart. He got a really good start from the second row. (I) was hoping I could get clear of Denny (Hamlin) and get the lead, have Ross (Chastain) kind of protect for me behind me.
I'm not sure if it would have made a difference. I was just not as good as a few guys, especially (Ryan) Blaney and Ross probably. It would have been difficult. But my team did a really good job all season, so I'm extremely proud of them. We had an up-and-down year and we finally put together two solid weeks in a row. I don't know if we've done that all year.”
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