By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Kyle Larson has a shot at history Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. And any time you have the shot at reaching records, it’s an anticipated weekend from the start.
In the FireKeepers Casino 400, Larson will attempt to become the first driver since Bill Elliott in 1986 to win four straight times at the 2-mile track. And with three of his five career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins coming at Michigan (including his first in 2016), the 25-year-old has a realistic, low-key attitude entering the weekend.
“It’s honestly just another race to me,” Larson said. “I think it’ll hit me, just the importance of it — I’d probably feel how special it is when we’re standing in Victory Lane after the race.
“Everything before that, I try not to focus on it or worry about it. Just go out and do what we do, try to win.”
But don’t think Elliott’s record isn’t on his mind.
“For sure, it would be special to get that fourth win,” he said. “Then, you’d start thinking about breaking that record of getting five in a row.”
Larson’s level-headedness may be rooted in 2018’s competition level. After 14 races this season, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch have won nine times while Martin Truex Jr. has two. Larson, however, is winless and sits ninth in points.
With this in mind, Larson feels a win on Sunday will be the toughest yet.
“Harvick, Kyle and Truex are probably your favorites,” he said. “I’m sure I’m a part of that group based on our last three races here. Hopefully, we can put a nice race together and be in position for those late-race restarts and try to take advantage of them.
“There are no guarantees we’re going to win this weekend. I would say this one will be tougher than any of them looking at how fast those three guys are right now.”