Kenny Wallace Highlights the “Funny” Side of Kyle Larson’s Performance During the Bristol Elimination Race
Former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace recently shared an interesting perspective on Kyle Larson’s performance during the Round of 16 elimination race at Bristol Motor Speedway. While Larson dominated the race and clinched victory in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Wallace found some humor in how the race unfolded for the Hendrick Motorsports driver. With this win, Larson secured his place in the Round of 12 of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, which will begin at Kansas Speedway.
The 2024 Bass Pro Shops Night Race, held at the ‘World’s Fastest Half-Mile’ oval, marked the 127th time the NASCAR Cup Series has raced at Bristol. Unlike many races on the 2024 calendar, this 500-lap event had surprisingly few wrecks and didn’t extend into overtime, providing a smoother and cleaner race. Larson’s dominance was on full display as he swept all stages, leading an incredible 462 laps before celebrating his victory by parking his #5 Chevy in the victory lane.
Wallace, who had a front-row seat to the action, stayed near the Bristol Motor Speedway for the event and thoroughly enjoyed watching the drivers battle for their playoff lives in this pivotal elimination race. During his popular video segment, ‘Coffee with Kenny,’ Wallace emphasized the difference between watching races live at the track compared to the experience on TV. He noted that fans at the track get a chance to witness all the intricacies and close calls that aren’t always visible on television broadcasts.
In discussing Larson’s performance, Wallace pointed out a particularly “funny” aspect of the race involving the driver’s efforts to avoid going a lap down. Larson encountered several “close calls” as he navigated lapped traffic, which added to the drama of the race. Wallace shared his thoughts on the matter, saying, “It was funny, right? When Kyle Larson was lapping people, it took him forever to get past one car. He was either down on the bottom or up on the top, and they (HMS) did not want to go down a lap. There were a lot of close calls.” Wallace’s behind-the-scenes perspective added a new layer of appreciation for just how intense the battle on the track was, even for the race leader.
Kyle Larson Climbs to the Top of the Cup Series Standings with Dominant Bristol Win
Kyle Larson’s victory at Bristol not only secured his advancement in the playoffs but also helped him jump an impressive eight positions in the standings, putting him at the top of the leaderboard in the 2024 Cup Series. This remarkable turnaround came after a challenging start to the playoffs, which included a difficult run at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Larson’s race ended early. In that race, Larson’s #5 Chevy got loose while exiting Turn 2 on Lap 56, leading to a collision with Chase Briscoe’s #14 Ford, resulting in a DNF for both drivers.
Larson’s fortunes improved slightly in the next race at Watkins Glen, where he finished 12th despite starting 20th. However, it was at Bristol that Larson truly hit his stride. He qualified with the second-fastest speed for the elimination race, while his teammate Alex Bowman secured the pole position. Although Bowman led for 34 laps, it was Larson who ultimately took command of the race, executing a near-perfect performance that led to a historic win in the NextGen era.
The margin of victory in Larson’s Bristol win—an astonishing 7.088 seconds over his teammate Chase Elliott, who finished in second place—was the largest winning margin in the NextGen era, which began in 2022. After such a commanding performance, Larson expressed his pride in his team’s flawless execution throughout the race.
Kyle Larson Reflects on a “Flawless” Performance at Bristol
In an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio following his win, Larson reflected on his team’s efforts and how everything seemed to click perfectly during the race. “I’m just really proud of the race team, proud of the pit crew, and proud of myself,” Larson said. “I feel like we executed a flawless race. We didn’t make any mistakes on pit road. The few times we came down, our car—I don’t even think we adjusted on it once throughout the night. And I felt like I hit my marks about every lap. It’s fun when you can execute like that and turn it into a historic night.”
This level of execution and precision allowed Larson to dominate the race in a way that few drivers have been able to do in recent memory. With his Bristol victory, he not only stamped his place in the Round of 12 but also put himself in a strong position moving forward, with a 39-point cushion above the playoff cutline.
Looking Ahead: Larson Enters Round of 12 in Prime Position
With his place in the Round of 12 secured, Larson will now focus on maintaining his momentum as the playoffs move to Kansas Speedway. He enters the next round at the top of the standings, thanks to his win and a series of solid performances throughout the regular season. Larson’s dominant showing at Bristol has given him a 39-point lead over the cutline, providing some breathing room as the playoff battles continue to intensify.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Larson can carry this momentum into Kansas and beyond. As one of the sport’s top drivers, Larson is a favorite to make a deep run in the playoffs, but with the unpredictable nature of NASCAR’s postseason, nothing is guaranteed. The road to the championship will only get tougher from here, but after his masterclass performance at Bristol, Larson looks more than ready for the challenge.
