The tension in a race is palpable, whether you’re leading the pack or teetering on the edge of elimination. For those in the lead, the pressure to hold onto that top spot is relentless. Conversely, if you’re fighting to stay in the game, every move counts. This was the scenario for Kyle Larson, who found himself in a commanding position, while four other racers were desperately trying to avoid being knocked out, two of whom were caught in the chaos triggered by Larson himself.
After the rain-delayed FireKeepers Casino 400, the drivers facing elimination are Daniel Suarez and Kyle Busch. Meanwhile, Joey Logano and Chase Briscoe, who were already struggling to make the Playoffs, found themselves in a tough spot after being involved in Larson’s incident.
Kyle Larson, however, wasn’t taken aback by his spin-out.
Before the race weekend, Larson was leading the Cup standings, having an outstanding year with four victories to his name. He started strong at Michigan, but a restart during the second stage dropped him to ninth place. While that alone might not have been detrimental, his impatience proved to be his downfall. As he approached turn three, Larson entered a three-wide situation. Ideally, he should have eased off to avoid a collision, but the urge to push forward overwhelmed him. This choice ultimately resulted in six other cars being taken out of the race alongside him. The #5 Hendrick Motorsports driver later acknowledged his error and recognized the significant impact it had on his team.
The hard tires we use here make it quite easy to lose grip on the track. So, while I wasn’t exactly shocked, I was definitely pushing hard to advance my position. I ended up in a strange aerodynamic position,” Larson shared with Bob Pockrass. After finishing 34th at Michigan International Speedway, Larson dropped to 4th in the standings, allowing Tyler Reddick to claim victory and take the lead in the Series.
Larson’s struggle impacted six other drivers, but only two were in a similar situation, and just one of them faced negative consequences. Chase Briscoe, who was in 17th place after Richmond, fell to 18th following the Michigan race, which allowed Kyle Busch to climb the rankings. Busch had a surprisingly good day, finishing in a solid 4th place.
Most of the drivers involved, except perhaps Busch, are likely feeling quite frustrated after the chaotic wreck following a long and challenging race. However, this wasn’t the only incident that led to a crash at Michigan.
Corey LaJoie was vying for a top-20 finish against Noah Gragson when he made contact with Gragson’s left rear. This caused the #7 car to spin out, resulting in a dramatic blowover crash that sent chills through the crowd. This marked the second time the 32-year-old driver experienced such a flip, with the first occurring at Talladega Superspeedway.
After his release from the infield care center, LaJoie shared with the media that this year has been particularly challenging for him regarding car handling. He noted that many drivers encountered aerodynamic difficulties at various points on the Michigan Speedway. Larson commented on the situation, saying, “I wouldn’t say it was surprising. The air can get really tricky over there. With the hard tires we use here, it’s quite easy to lose grip.”
With only two races left in the regular season, both of which are legendary and could greatly influence the Cup standings, the final race before the Playoffs is likely to hinge on the points accumulated.
