Chase Elliott is dealing with an agonizing case of déjà vu following a disappointing runner-up finish on Sunday in the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
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Larson left MI with his first win in 99 career Cup races and a spot in the NASCAR Chase, while Elliott left the speedway 11 in the points and with a precarious hold on an at-large Chase bid.
I was tearing up the last few laps, the Californian said. “It was finally going to be it”. “This one’s for the Clauson family”. We’ve been working really hard.
“It’s hard to talk yourself into staying out two more laps or three more laps when you know those guys are gaining. track position with each lap, but the worst thing you can do is let them force your hand and then run it out of fuel at the end”, Johnston said. “We parked it for him, so that’s really cool”.
Kyle Larson celebrates with crew members after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. He is the first graduate of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity and NASCAR Next programs to win a Sprint Cup race. Michael McDowell claimed his first Xfinity Series win at Road America on Saturday and Brett Moffitt drove to victory lane at MI after the Camping World Truck Series race, also on Saturday.
Larson’s victory snapped a 99-race losing streak for Chip Ganassi Racing.
“Chevy has had a fortunate lineup of drivers and team owners, some of the very best in the industry”, said Jim Campbell, vice president of performance vehicles and motorsports for Chevrolet. The win ensures a place for the California product in this year’s Chase Grid, and serves as yet another example of the arrival NASCAR’s next generation of stars. The team rallied around him. I can’t say enough about the kid over the last few years. “And the No.2 (Keselowski) pushed me really good”.
Keselowski, who started 18th, led 14 laps Sunday after going off pit strategy early in the race. The Pure Michigan 400 was the third race in which the package that may become the base of the 2017 aero package was tested. Thanks to (sponsor) Target. “We messed up that last stop, but we made it back”.
“I need to do restarts a little better”, Elliott said.
Get used to seeing a lot of those three drivers in the top five.
But Ganassi defended Larson’s decision that day and was redeemed on Sunday when Larson beat Chase Elliott on a late restart to claim his victory.
Elliott, a rookie, was going to be the next first-time victor and Larson was going to be forced to discuss another race that got away. Kyle Busch spun out on lap 27 on the grass in turn four to bring out the second caution of the race.
“After the way my rookie season started, coming close a few times, not getting it done, you can visualize the win that early in your career”, Larson said. I have a ton of respect for them and love racing for the organization. I couldn’t be more happy with Kyle right now.
They lead laps yesterday. Rookie Chase Elliott, 20, making his 29 career start – the same number of starts Dale Jarrett had made when he won at MIS in 1991 – looked prepared to follow his dad Bill, who won seven times at MIS, to the checkered flag, leading with 13 laps to go when a flat tire on the No. 46 vehicle of Michael Annett brought out a caution. Soon after, Elliott was able to retake second from Keselowski.
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“From where we started our year to where our cars are now, we’ve made a lot of progress”, McMurray said.
