Kyle Larson just snagged his first-ever win at Talladega, but the way it went down had everyone talking, even the guys he beat. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who finished third, flat out admitted he “gave the race” to Larson in the closing moments, a wild confession after a finish Larson himself called “crazy.”
Larson: “Felt Like I Was on Offense” as Chaos Erupted
Kyle Larson, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet, was pumped after the checkered flag, saying, “What a day. Can’t really say enough about it.” He credited massive help from his Chevy teammates all day long, which made him feel like he was “on offense.” His No. 5 Chevy was “really good and handled well,” which is exactly what you need when things get absolutely bonkers. That last lap was pure madness. Austin Hill was pushing him “really tight” in turns 1 and 2, so tight that Larson “didn’t feel confident to turn my hands,” and it pushed him up the track. Hill got underneath him, and Larson actually thought, “it was over for me right there.” But somehow, “momentum and energy got broke up and here we came.” Just a “wild how it ended up there,” right? Larson knows it takes allies on speedways, and he gave huge props to Chevrolet for their effort and his own team. He even mentioned the 22-year mark since the tragic Hendrick Motorsports plane crash, saying he “felt like they were riding with us there on that last lap to get this win.” Talk about an emotional finish!
Byron Wanted Larson to Win, Stenhouse Couldn’t Block
William Byron, piloting the No. 24 Chevrolet, ended up in second, a finish he begrudgingly called, “Second sucks, but it’s good that Kyle (Larson) won.” Byron felt like the energy got broken up off Turn 2, giving him a shot, especially with Cole Custer pushing him in Turn 3. He thought he made the right move to try and win, but then “out of nowhere, here came someone on the bottom and it was the No. 5.” Byron still sounded happy for Larson, especially since they “worked really well together all day.” Then there’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the No. 47. He was leading and controlling a lot of the final stage, thanks to some killer strategy. But in the frantic final moments, he was focused on blocking Byron and just “never saw (Larson) coming.” Larson came from “five or six positions back,” and by the time Stenhouse realized it, he “just wasn’t able to get down and block him.” His words say it all: “Just one wrong move there at the end, trying to block (Byron), we gave the race to (Larson).” Ouch. Ross Chastain, who finished fourth, was clearly frustrated, mentioning a “massive issue with our speed prediction.” This is the kind of high-stakes racing that makes Talladega legendary, where one split-second decision changes everything.
Larson’s Jaw-Dropping Points Lead: Can He Close It Out?
Beyond the incredible finish, Larson walked away with something truly monumental: a 73-point lead! He actually thought he’d be in the “40s, maybe 50s,” which he still would have found “amazing,” but 73 points is “incredible.” That’s a huge cushion as the season barrels towards its climax. He’s got Martinsville up next, and you know he’s thinking big picture. Larson himself hopes they “can go to Martinsville and have a good day and then just close it out would be amazing.” With a lead like that and the momentum from such a wild, emotional win, the rest of the field has to be sweating. Can Larson convert this massive advantage into the ultimate prize? We’ll all be watching to see if he can seal the deal at Martinsville.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply