Kevin Harvick, a former Cup champion, analyzed the events that led to Kyle Larson’s victory in the Brickyard 400, highlighting a key moment involving Brad Keselowski’s pit stop. This maneuver left Larson and Ryan Blaney on the front row for the overtime restart.
Larson, driving the #5 car for Hendrick Motorsports, made a strong push in the final stage and positioned himself behind Keselowski for the first overtime restart. When Keselowski headed to the pits before reaching the start-finish line, Larson moved to the advantageous inside line on the front row. Despite Ryan Blaney being the control car during the restart, Larson had a superior launch, prompting discussions about whether he jumped the start. Harvick, analyzing the restart on Fox Sports, noted that both drivers seemed to start simultaneously, but Larson’s momentum gave him the edge.
On his Happy Hour podcast, Harvick said:
“The restart was tight. I reviewed it several times and didn’t see anything that warranted a penalty or suggested Larson jumped the start. It appeared they both took off simultaneously, but Larson outpaced Blaney through the gears. This unique situation ultimately secured his victory.” [from 15:30]
Harvick also mentioned that Larson was uncertain about who controlled the restart, adding:
“With Brad pulling off the track and Kyle taking the front row inside position for the restart, Larson was unclear about his control status.”
As NASCAR approached an Olympic break, Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott set a historic career record. Meanwhile, Larson’s impressive drive was seen by Harvick as a result of various favorable factors aligning perfectly for the #5 Chevy.
In a discussion with Harvick, 2021 Cup champion Kyle Larson reflected on his Brickyard 400 win and the strategic decisions made during the overtime restart. Larson revealed he lined up behind Keselowski, anticipating that the #6 Ford Mustang might run out of fuel before the restart. When Larson took Keselowski’s spot on the front row, he was unsure about who controlled the restart. Talking to Harvick on Fox Sports, Larson said:
“I had no clue at that point who was the control car. I assumed it was Blaney, but we both seemed to ease into the throttle at the same time, unsure of who had control. So, we both just went for it simultaneously.”
