NASCAR driver Kyle Larson has faced a challenging week. After a disappointing exit from the FireKeepers Casino 400, the Californian also encountered trouble at the Gold Cup 70 Sprint Car dirt race on Wednesday, August 21.
Before heading to Michigan, Larson was at the top of the 2024 Cup Series standings. With a Top-5 qualifying position, fans were eager to see a strong performance from the Hendrick Motorsports competitor. Unfortunately, Larson’s fortunes changed dramatically after the first restart on lap 113.
While trying to overtake a leading driver, the 34-year-old lost control of his #5 Chevrolet Camaro, resulting in an unassisted spin on lap 116. This incident triggered a multi-car pileup, leading to an immediate DNF for Larson and several others.
After the race, Larson took full responsibility for the crash. To distract himself from the Cup Series setback, he participated in the Sprint Car Gold Cup 70 dirt race. However, his luck didn’t improve during this event, as he had to ease off the throttle while trying to navigate past lapped cars.
The abrupt loss of speed altered the path of Larson’s #57 car, leading to a loss of control that resulted in a collision with Corey Day’s #4 car. This crash sent the Hendrick Motorsports driver crashing into the outer wall, effectively destroying his vehicle. Additionally, this incident marked the end of his winning streak in the Sprint Car series.
Check out the video of the dirt race incident involving Kyle Larson, as shared by FloRacing on X:
A promising performance from @KyleLarsonRacin came to an unexpected halt at @sdspeedway during #GoldCup70 360 Night.
Here’s a quick recap of how the Michigan multi-car wreck impacted Kyle Larson’s standings in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular championship and Playoffs.
With four victories, 12 top-10 finishes, and 9 top-5 results, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson was likely aiming for a strong finish at Michigan International Speedway. Unfortunately, he couldn’t maintain the momentum from his previous races, finishing seventh in the Cook Out 400 and first in the Brickyard 400.
Despite securing a spot on the second row in fourth place, the Californian driver struggled to turn that position into a successful finish. On lap 116, Larson lost control of his #5 vehicle, resulting in a multi-car crash that ended his race prematurely. He ultimately placed 34th in the FireKeepers Casino 400, adding just 3 points to his overall score.
In contrast, his main competitors for the championship—Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott, and Denny Hamlin—gained significant ground, earning 40, 31, and 28 points, respectively, and surpassing Larson in the standings.
Currently, Kyle Larson sits in fourth place in the regular season rankings with 782 points, trailing Reddick (814 points), Elliott (804 points), and Hamlin (786 points). Nevertheless, with four victories this season, the 34-year-old still holds the top position in the Playoffs standings.
