[autotag]Kyle Larson[/autotag] swept the NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway but it didn’t come without a challenge. The No. 5 car nearly spun out in Stage 2 while Christopher Bell almost passed Larson at the end of the event. However, the Hendrick Motorsports driver held on and survived what could have been a disastrous weekend in Las Vegas.
Now, Larson has officially clinched a spot in the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. The last time he secured a place in the title race was in 2021, which also happened to be the opening Round of 8 race. Following his victory at Las Vegas, Larson was asked how this year feels as a group compared to his championship-winning season two years ago.
“Honestly, it feels very similar,” Larson said. “I mean, I know in the win column it doesn’t show that, but sheer speed and stuff, I feel like we’ve been very similar to where we were in 2021. We’ve probably contended for as many wins as we did then. It’ll just be tougher. These Next Gen races are tougher to win than back then is all.”
MASSIVE SAVE.
Kyle Larson slides! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Qy7Rs4sBXs
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 15, 2023
“In a lot of ways it feels similar. I’ve said that all along, since the beginning of the year, this feels very similar to 2021. Thankfully we’re in position like we were in 2021. Hopefully, we can cap it off like we did then, too.”
If Larson believes the 2023 season feels similar to 2021, that might spell trouble for the rest of the field. The driver of the No. 5 car won his first Cup Series title in his only Championship 4 appearance. It wouldn’t be shocking if Larson came away with his second title in just three weeks at Phoenix.
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