Kyle Larson had an unexpected early exit in Stage 1 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, September 8. While trying to reposition his No. 5 Chevrolet, the Hendrick Motorsports driver, running in third place, crashed hard into the outside wall.
Larson entered the Round of 16 opener as the top seed at the 1.54-mile track with a comfortable 35-point lead above the elimination line. However, the crash cut his race short, and he finished a disappointing 37th, marking his fifth DNF (Did Not Finish) of the season. Speaking to reporters about the incident, the 2021 Cup Series champion admitted he was caught off guard by his car’s handling, saying:
“Not at all. Never. Not once. If anything, I was getting tighter and tighter. That just caught me way off guard. I was never once in that same corner loose and it just started stepping out and I over-corrected, I guess.”
Fortunately, Larson was unharmed despite the severe crash. After being checked at the infield care center, he expressed gratitude toward his team and NASCAR for the safety equipment, adding, “I feel fine, thankfully everything held up great in the car. Thanks to Hendrick Motorsport and NASCAR for the safety and all the safety I use.”
Larson now shifts focus to the upcoming race at Watkins Glen International, where he has previously won twice, in 2021 and 2022.
Chase Briscoe Reflects on Colliding with Larson
Chase Briscoe, who was running in 14th place, found himself involved in the crash when Larson wrecked in front of him. Driving the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang, Briscoe couldn’t avoid Larson’s bumper, finishing just behind him, with both drivers collecting a single point.
Recalling the incident, Briscoe explained, “I was trying to watch my outside getting into Turn 1 and was probably a little late to seeing the No. 5 car wrecking. I didn’t expect anyone to wreck because they weren’t two-wide. I saw the smoke and was trying to slow down. I knew he was coming down the race track, but I just couldn’t get left quick enough.”
Meanwhile, Joey Logano of Team Penske overtook teammate Ryan Blaney and Daniel Suarez of Trackhouse Racing in overtime to win the race and secure his spot in the Round of 12. Both Larson and Briscoe now face the challenge of either winning a race or earning enough points to advance to the Currently, Larson holds 10th place in the Cup Series standings with 2,041 points, giving him a 15-point cushion above the Round of 12 cut-off line. Briscoe, on the other hand, sits in 16th place with 2,006 points, 21 points behind the cutline. As the pressure mounts, both drivers will need to perform well in the coming races if they hope to move forward in the championship. For Larson, a solid performance at Watkins Glen could help secure his spot in the next round, while Briscoe faces an uphill battle as he fights to keep his playoff hopes alive.
