After several close calls and heartbreaking near-misses, Kyle Larson is finally a Sprint Cup Series victor.
Advertisement
Kyle Larson claimed his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win in the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway, clinching a berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. So we stood our ground and we didn’t need a bit tricky chase Elliott delivered a solid drive leading 31 laps and finishing second. He was in a must-win situation heading into the final stretch before the 10-week playoff, and it looked like he would miss out on being part of the 16-driver field once again. Especially we’re extremely sad, and still are sad, but after hanging out with the Clauson family, his fiancée Lauren at Knoxville, to see how strong they were being, really helps all of us. “We knew whoever had the lead off of 2 was probably going to win the race”. We’re going to miss him. Shortly after he celebrated his victory, Clauson’s fiancée Lauren Stewart tweeted her gratitude and congratulations. Obviously I didn’t do a very good job of that here both trips. “Now, I’ll be able to go back and watch this, and it’s going to be awesome”, McDowell said. “I’m still at a loss for words”. Larson, who had come close many times in his young Cup career, ended Chip Ganassi Racing’s 99-race winless drought.
There have been those among fans and the media, who think Larson was not aggressive enough, especially at this year’s race in Dover, Del. Team owner Chip Ganassi breathed a sigh of relief. “We were building. We’ve been building over the years”. He came in here and the team rallied around him.
I was tearing up the last few laps, the Californian said.
After the race, Larson told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s Claire B. Lang that he hopes his hair grows fast, because more race-day haircuts may be in order. Taking home. Third in the team Penske for her third place carving us today.
Larson recalled the last couple of years, reminding everyone that his statistics back up that confidence. That was a big one (to break the winless streak). Only one person wins in this sport.
“The pole was nice we just weren’t as competitive as we were in the spring race”.
Alex Bowman, filling in for Dale Earnhardt Jr.in the No. 88 auto, had a problem with the ignition system and finished 30th. His weekend started well with a sixth-place qualifying performance. After 20 more laps, Bowman was forced to take his vehicle to the garage. He spun out coming off Turn 4 early in the race and played catch-up all day before ending up 19th, one lap behind the leaders.
Regularly Kyle Larson exhibited why so many people often compared him to Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, former open-wheel sprint vehicle standouts who evolved into NASCAR greats. He admitted that when it became apparent the victory was his with a couple laps remaining, he began to shake, his legs went numb and tears welled in his eyes.
It may have cost him the victory.
As the laps wore down, the # 42 Chevy of Kyle Larson held the lead.
Kyle Larson celebrates winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway, in Brooklyn, Mich., Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. But that’s only if Buescher stays in the top 30, which is in doubt after Sunday.
Elliott blew his chances with a poor late restart, and Larson made him pay. Buescher is seven points ahead of David Ragan for 30th place on the season. That means Buescher still has two more races to keep himself in the top 30.
Another green-flag cycle of stops began just after lap 150, and when the cycle completed on lap 170, Elliott was back up front with a lead of almost three seconds over second-place Larson.
STEWART SAYS GOODBYE: Tony Stewart didn’t have a memorable day during his final visit to MI.
Advertisement
The Camping World Truck Series will race at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Ontario next Sunday while both the Xfinity and the Sprint Cup Series will be racing at Darlington Raceway next weekend.
