Quick day turns sour for Kyle Larson in Pocono

By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer

Kyle Larson proved to be one of the quickest cars Sunday at Pocono Raceway.

Winning both stages in the Pocono 400, Larson’s No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet was kicked off the top step on lap 102, when the race slid over to the third and final stage of the afternoon.

Restarting behind new leader Kyle Busch, Larson was unable to return to the lead from there on.

“Our team did a real good job calling the pit strategy in the first half of the race, got those two stage wins,” Larson said. “Our car was really good, especially the final stage but we didn’t have the track position. I could pass people when I felt others couldn‘t pass. I was happy about that.”

Restarting seventh with nine laps to go, Larson’s day went from great, to solid… to terrible. Contact with Clint Bowyer turned Larson’s blue Chevy into the backstretch’s outside wall, forcing Larson to pit road under green. He finished 26th.

“I tried to be really agressive and fit in that hole,” he said. “I haven’t seen a replay but I’m assuming I just wasn’t clear and turned myself into the wall. I hate that I did that, but I felt it was a good opportunity to fit in that hole. I just got to be smarter.”

The boost in aggression was in part caused by the heightened difficulty to make passes following a restart. Though making his share of overtakes, Larson felt the difference from last year’s package to this year’s.

“You’d have to look at the stats and numbers but from my vantage point, I thoguht there was way less passing,” he said. “I’m sure NASCAR will figure out a way to make the numbers look like they were better but I don’t know. I was able to pass a handful of cars there once we got spread out, not as easy as the other package.”

Despite the accident to close out the day, Sunday was a well-needed run for a team who has crashed in now six of the last eight races of 2019. Leading 35 laps and winning both stages, decent points were salvaged and a boost of momentum was accomplished heading into Michigan, where Larson has scored three of his five career Cup wins.

“It was a good day, a really fast car,” he said. “My speed down the straightaways were really good, I felt I had good power. Thanks to Hendrick engines for their power. I just wish I could have finished the day good.

“I believe we can get some consistent runs going. The last two weeks have been both my fault. I’ve said I’ve had a bunch of bad luck to start the year, but then the last two weeks, it’s been my fault. I move on pretty quick. I race again in a couple days so I’ll forget about the mistake I made today.”