Kyle Larson’s bid to make NASCAR history was cut short at Bristol, as he narrowly missed out on winning all three national series races in a single weekend. The Hendrick Motorsports driver finished second in the Craftsman Truck Series race, putting an end to his hopes of a rare triple sweep.
Only one driver has ever pulled off the feat—Kyle Busch, who in 2010 won the Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series races at Bristol Motor Speedway in a single weekend. Larson had hoped to match that record, but his attempt took a hit when he failed to win the Xfinity Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He came close, missing the win by less than a second.
Starting from 11th in the Truck Series race due to rain-canceled practice and qualifying sessions, Larson quickly moved up to sixth in Stage 1. However, he slipped to 12th in Stage 2. A well-timed yellow flag allowed him to restart near the front, and he chased down Chandler Smith, the race leader. Despite a hard-fought effort, Larson finished just 0.934 seconds behind Smith.
This might have been Larson’s only shot at achieving the triple sweep this year, as he isn’t currently set to compete in any more Truck Series races.
Adding to the emotional weight of the weekend was the loss of Jon Edwards, Hendrick Motorsports’ director of racing communications. The team shared a heartfelt tribute, calling Edwards a valued teammate and a pillar of the NASCAR community.
“Jon was a consummate professional whose talent for forming strong connections made him widely respected,” the statement read. “His impact on our team and sport is immeasurable. More than that, Jon was a kind and thoughtful person who brought passion and care to everything he did.”
Larson also shared his grief, stating, “It’s a sad day for everyone who knew Jon. I’ll always be thankful for the memories and laughter we shared. He truly left a mark on my life. My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.”
