After Kyle Larson boldly claimed to be better than Max Verstappen, many fans couldn’t help but draw comparisons between the two championship-caliber drivers. Both Larson and Verstappen had been dominant all season, and many expected each to cruise through to their respective titles. But as the season progressed, things took a different turn, especially for Larson. The recent events at Atlanta Motor Speedway seem to mark a turning point, not just for Larson but for NASCAR’s veteran drivers as a whole.
Veteran NASCAR driver Kyle Petty has issued a stark warning, suggesting that Larson may be digging himself into a hole that could be impossible to climb out of.
Kyle Larson Faces Potential Elimination
According to Kyle Petty, Larson’s errors in Atlanta might spell the beginning of the end for his playoff hopes. After crashing during Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Larson blamed the incident on briefly losing control in the high-banked first and second turns—a set of circumstances that resulted in him losing a significant number of points.
While Joey Logano celebrated his win, Kyle Larson’s mistake loomed large, possibly with heavy consequences. Petty, known for his blunt assessments, did not hold back when speaking about what this error could mean for Larson’s playoff chances. Petty remarked, “We saw the No. 5 car, Kyle Larson, running by himself—everything’s fine, and then boom, he’s in the wall, losing 20 points. These guys have worked themselves into a hole, and for me, these were three of the guys I thought would make the final four, definitely the final eight. It was a terrible day for them.”
Having enjoyed a career full of wins and top finishes, Petty speaks from experience, offering a reality check not only to Larson but also to Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin. Larson, in particular, understands the importance of victories. His remarkable 2021 championship run was defined by his dominant wins at Bristol and the Charlotte ROVAL. So, a DNF from such a strong position is highly uncharacteristic for a driver of his skill level.
Larson’s performance was solid in the early stages of the race—he comfortably led the pack during Stage 1. But in a surprising turn of events, Larson lost control, slamming into the wall at over 160 mph. The crash left his car in flames, though Larson emerged unscathed. “I’m not sure if I blew a tire or what happened,” Larson said after the crash.
Although Larson walked away from the wreck without injury, his mistake impacted others, most notably Chase Briscoe, who dropped to the bottom of the leaderboard, sitting at a score of -21 points. Larson didn’t fare much better—he now finds himself just three positions above the elimination zone after earning only one point in Atlanta.
Denny Hamlin Responds to Petty’s Critique
While Petty was vocal about Larson’s errors, he also took the opportunity to critique Denny Hamlin’s strategy during the race. Petty suggested that Hamlin’s decision-making cost him 20 critical points, echoing the risk and reward nature of racing strategy. “I don’t know what happened with Denny Hamlin yesterday. I don’t know if he was just taking it easy or what, but whatever he was trying to do, it didn’t work,” Petty said.
Hamlin’s strategy at the Quaker State 400 was to anticipate a late-race wreck and base his pit stops around that assumption. However, when the anticipated wreck didn’t occur, Hamlin’s gamble cost him dearly—20 points that could potentially decide his playoff future.
Unfazed by the criticism, Hamlin addressed his strategy, saying, “I think teams are smarter now than they used to be. Not saying it was the perfect strategy, but it was the one I felt was right for that day. Watkins Glen is up next, and with a new tire expected to have significant fall-off, we could be in for a wild ride. You could end up on the good or bad side of that tire wear.”
Pit stop strategies are always a gamble, and Hamlin’s didn’t pay off this time. Both Larson and Hamlin now face a critical moment in their playoff runs, with their upcoming performances likely to determine whether they continue their championship quests or face elimination.
Watkins Glen: A Critical Turning Point
For Larson, Watkins Glen represents a vital opportunity to turn things around. Historically, the No. 5 team has performed well on this road course, and Larson remains optimistic. However, the unknown element of tire wear could be a major factor. Larson said, “Points are always on your mind, so I can’t deny that. But I’m confident heading to a track we’re usually competitive at. Still, the unknown tire wear could throw a wrench in the works. If we can gain 10 to 15 points, I’ll feel much better heading into Bristol.”
Larson currently sits in 10th place in the playoff standings, behind all of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates. A win in the next race is crucial for him to avoid elimination, as Petty suggested.
Watkins Glen could be a game-changer not just for Larson but for many of the playoff drivers. Stay tuned to see how the drama unfolds.
