Before the race at Texas, Dale Earnhardt Jr. hinted at a possible grudge against Kyle Larson after the Hendrick Motorsports driver remarked about wanting to “embarrass” the Xfinity Series field at Bristol. Dale Jr. even suggested that JR Motorsports drivers might race Larson “differently.” However, the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 played out without drama, and Larson once again proved his dominance.
Filling in for Connor Zilisch, who suffered a back injury at Talladega, Larson piloted the No. 88 Chevrolet for JRM at Texas Motor Speedway. Despite the pre-race tension, the competition on the track remained clean. The race itself was chaotic, featuring 11 cautions and a double overtime finish. Larson and Justin Allgaier battled intensely for the lead, with one close call in Stage 3, but ultimately, Larson found an opening after Allgaier stayed out in heavy traffic and later got caught in a crash.
Afterward, Larson addressed whether Dale Jr.’s drivers raced him differently, admitting he noticed no change in their approach. He explained that despite some rough patches — including handling issues with his own car in Stage 2 — his competitors treated him fairly. Larson described his car’s performance as inconsistent, initially too tight, then too loose after adjustments, but praised the final-stage tweaks that allowed him to compete strongly.
Earlier this season, Sam Mayer had drawn criticism for wrecking Larson at Homestead-Miami, but in Texas, Mayer and teammate Carson Kvapil were focused on recovering from late-race incidents rather than aggression. Allgaier, meanwhile, led 99 laps before bad luck struck during a green-flag pit cycle. He collided with Kris Wright and crashed heavily, ending his race in 35th place.
Despite the setback, Allgaier showed no hard feelings. He praised Larson’s performance, acknowledging the No. 5 Cup Series star’s talent and taking personal responsibility for the crash. Allgaier reflected that he was pushing too hard to catch Larson when the incident occurred.
In the end, Kyle Larson’s win at Texas came without controversy. Despite Dale Jr.’s prediction of heated battles, the race remained respectful, and Larson’s skill once again shined in the Xfinity Series.
