Before Larson completed his first season in the Xfinity Series in 2013, he made his Cup debut at Charlotte. Michael McDowell started in the back Sunday, because Sam Hornish Jr. practiced and qualified his Sprint Cup vehicle while McDowell was at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., on Saturday, running the NASCAR Xfinity Series race there.
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Get used to seeing a lot of those three drivers in the top five.
Given the Cup Series’ win-and-in format for the Chase, the decision not to rough up Kenseth could have cost Larson a spot in the Chase had he not won Sunday.
The Michigan win was Larson’s seventh win in NASCAR’s top three series and came in his 99th Sprint Cup Series start. We’ve got to work on that with two [races] to go now. It makes me extremely proud. “He said, ‘They all had a shot at me the first time around and they passed, ‘” Ganassi said.
“I know it isn’t fun opening a hood of a race vehicle that is as hot as it is and trying to work on it”, said Buescher, a development driver for Roush/Fenway Racing who competes in the No. 34 Dockside Logistics Ford for Front Row Motorsports. It seemed to me, Why pit? Kyle Busch is second at 51. Had to work by Harvick and Brad. At the end I gave Kyle a really good push. I’m sure it will be stressful when we get to the Chase. Last weekend, it was Larson and Elliott going 1-2.
The caution flag flew four times for 17 laps and there were 20 lead changes among 13 drivers. The average speed was 162.742 miles per hour during the race. “You race a little bit differently when you’re in the Chase, I think, than when you’re out of it and have nothing to lose”.
“We worked really, really hard to get a win, and just haven’t done it”, Larson said.
Brad Keselowski: His third-place finish was his eighth top-10 at MI, although he has yet to win at his home-state track. “Finished where we deserved”. He did that in 2014, but followed up last season with 65 points, with a very solid 34 fastest laps. I said, ‘What do you think about these other teams that are talking to you?’ I’ll never forget his answer.
The number 88 vehicle suffered from an ignition problem and had to go to garage and reboot the system before heading back to the track four laps down.
They lead laps yesterday.
“It’s like golf. Only one person can win each week”.
Team owner Chip Ganassi considers Larson the foundation for his NASCAR teams’ future. “Kyle and everybody knew it was a matter of win”. “For the second time this has happened here”. “Starting out in Chicago, that’s a great one for me. It’s a big day today”. Ryan Blaney and Kevin Harvick came in fourth and fifth, respectively.
“No question the kid has talent, he can drive”, Ganassi said. “Chase just had a heck of a race”. That gives us our 5th entry here for the Chase.
I couldn’t be happier, more relieved, and a lot of things for Kyle Larson, because of the expectations that we all, myself included, put on this young man.
And these drivers may be young, but they’ve paid their dues. “If I wasn’t, that would mean I didn’t care”. As bad as his track history is at MI (which he confirmed Sunday), it’s solid at Darlington.
After several close calls and heartbreaking near-misses, Kyle Larson is finally a Sprint Cup Series victor. He was so pumped up with adrenalin, Larson was still holding his steering wheel in his hand as he exulted in joy while standing atop his No. 42 Target Chevrolet.
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Race cars in the background with the pit crew in the foreground. It’s the first time since Richmond in the spring that Jimmie Johnson has led more than 10 laps in a race.
