Kyle Larson’s week on the race observe started in Excessive Restrict Racing victory lane at Thunderbowl Raceway in California on Wednesday night time and led to the identical vogue on Sunday — hoisting a trophy at Homestead-Miami Speedway within the Cup Sequence.
Larson’s once-in-a-generation adaptability to numerous race vehicles has turned the norm for folks throughout the motorsports trade.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t diminish the astonishment it provides when success occurs over and over.
Within the case of NASCAR Corridor of Famer Jeff Gordon, who serves as vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, it gave him a slight crack of a smile in the course of the closing laps at Homestead as Larson rallied from fourth to get round teammate Alex Bowman for the eventual victory.
“Simply watching him at his craft at this observe, it’s like watching him at Knoxville or Eldora or one thing, for my part,” Gordon mentioned.
Homestead-Miami Speedway has been arguably Larson’s greatest observe courting again to his humble beginnings within the Craftsman Truck and Xfinity Sequence as he boasts 4 victories throughout NASCAR’s prime three sequence on the 1.5-mile observe.
A big motive is due to is uncanny capability to seek out pace mere inches from the wall at Homestead, very like he does on a mud observe.
Had it not been for a late-race restart in Saturday’s Xfinity Sequence race, Larson would’ve had a clear sweep at Homestead as he additionally received Friday’s Truck Sequence occasion.
Whereas Larson’s expertise is on show extra on a observe like Homestead, Gordon seemed on the subject from a broad perspective, stating it doesn’t all the time equate to victories.
“It’s enjoyable, but it surely doesn’t assure wins,” Gordon mentioned. “You don’t know when the cautions are going to come back out.
“Pretty much as good as his automobile and he’s right here, if he has any weak point, it’s brief runs. We noticed it in the present day, and we noticed it yesterday. Yeah, I imply, the 1, he obtained at the back of them on that restart. However I don’t even know in the event that they win if that didn’t occur. His automobile simply doesn’t take off pretty much as good.
“A few of that’s setup, what it takes to be good, ripping the wall on the lengthy runs. Yeah, it simply doesn’t assure the wins.”
Regardless of main greater than half of Saturday’s Xfinity Sequence race and having a large lead late, it didn’t equate to a victory after the sure-fire win was diminished by an ill-timed push from Sam Mayer on a restart. Larson completed fourth within the occasion.
That gave the 2021 Cup Sequence champion “additional” motivation on Sunday.
“Given previous historical past, I simply wished to take the inexperienced flag and kick all people’s ass in the present day, actually,” Larson mentioned. “I wished to get the lead early and simply dominate like I used to be yesterday.”
Larson’s mindset rapidly shifted, nonetheless, and it became a humbling second.
“Then the inexperienced flag flew, and it was like the other,” Larson mentioned. “I used to be going backwards and getting pissed off within the helmet and simply annoyed, however simply figured that that day was not going to go like that. Then, yeah, you simply overlook about all that.
“I believe simply main into the race, that’s what your thought course of is. However then after ten laps or so, I rapidly forgot concerning the desirous to kick all people’s ass all race lengthy. It was extra, Let’s work arduous at this and get a win. And that’s how the race performed out.
“Yeah, I imply, I’m pleased with myself for form of overcoming that immature mindset earlier than the race and simply digging down deep to remain in it as a result of it wasn’t a typical Homestead for me. I used to be by no means capable of get the lead till it actually mattered, the place usually I lead all of the laps that don’t matter apart from the final one.
“Yeah, simply proud that we have been capable of maintain our heads in it in the present day.”
Even the sequence’ prime stars have humbling moments right here and there.
Gordon assured that Sunday’s win was greater than sufficient to clear up the frustrations of the Xfinity Sequence end.
“I believe in the present day made up for it,” Gordon laughed. “I believe that he’ll overlook about yesterday (Saturday) fairly rapidly after this win.”
