It also gave drivers like Kyle Larson and Trevor Bayne more reason to worry.
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Chase Elliiott felt like crying.
Larson had led 140 total laps in the races before MI, finished in the top five four times, and the top 10 seven times. The Pure Michigan 400 was the third race in which the package that may become the base of the 2017 aero package was tested.
Buescher started 21st at MI, but just four laps into Sunday’s race, he radioed his team of potential engine problems.
But the drivers and their stories saved the day. “This was the crowning one by winning in Cup with Larson”.
Chase Elliott beat Larson off pit road by half a auto length during the final green-flag pit stops of the race as it appeared the former was going to take his first career chequered flag, but Michael Annett brought out the caution with 12 laps remaining.
I was teared-up that whole last few laps because I could just feel it. He was for Bryan Clauson, he was for his crew, and he was for his fans.
Last season the teams and drivers really embraced the throwback atmosphere that the track was promoting as teams showed up with cars painted in schemes that honored some of the drivers and sponsors that raced as far back as the 60’s. But this time, Larson was able to close the deal and now puts Chip Ganassi Racing into the Chase for the second straight season. He got an earlier than planned signal from his Jackman who did not see that the right rear tire was not on yet, and the Jackman dropped the auto too early causing damage to the left rear quarter-panel.
Meanwhile, Larson got a push from Keselowski, and Larson used the jump to take the checkered flag. Carl Edwards is the defending race victor.
In June, Elliott was positioned to win, but he got hung up on a late restart, and Joey Logano went on to win.
Buescher’s cushion isn’t quite secure with three races remaining until the Chase, but a 13-point edge is a pretty good foundation to build on.
Theres only one way to fix it, and thats to meet it head on. In his rookie season, he had eight top-fives, 17 top 10s, and led 53 laps. When Larson declined to race Matt Kenseth roughly in the closing laps at Dover earlier this summer, Ganassi didn’t complain about his driver failing to do whatever it took to win.
“Watkins Glen, knowing that morning we didn’t get any good news, that was really tough getting in the vehicle there”, Larson said in the MIS postrace news conference. With races at the Darlington Raceway this weekend and at the Richmond International Raceway the following week, Ganassi could well get both of his cars into the Chase.
The Chip Gnassi driver earned a slot in the Chase for the first time in his career.
The celebration that followed was refreshing and pure: Larson dedicated the win to friend Bryan Clauson, who died from injuries in a sprint vehicle crash earlier this month, then he sat down next to his auto to compose himself.
Buescher leads David Ragan by seven points for the No. 30 spot. One of those was Kyle Larson, who was hoping to have a good points day to stay in the top 16 and be Chase eligible.
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“We both spun our tires really bad, and the No. 2 (Keselowski) pushed me really good”, Larson said. “We’ve been on the cusp for so many years. Took me a few years to win an (World of) Outlaws race”.
