[autotag]Kyle Larson[/autotag]’s last two weeks have been a near disaster. Larson made a mistake in the Indianapolis 500, missed the Coca-Cola 600 due to weather, and was unsure if he would receive a waiver from NASCAR. Yet, Larson was granted a waiver following the race at World Wide Technology Raceway and promptly won NASCAR’s next race at Sonoma Raceway.
After his second career Sonoma win, the Hendrick Motorsports driver climbed from his car and celebrated a home track victory. Larson was excited but unsure if the strategy play by crew chief Cliff Daniels and the No. 5 team would work out.
“Yeah, I didn’t know what we were doing as far as strategy,” Larson said. “I was just out there banging laps away. I don’t know, we study all the strategy, but it’s like doing homework. I don’t really know what I’m looking at…I was like, well, man, these guys are going to have to pit another time, maybe. Then we said we had to go race and pass these guys, I got a bit nervous. I knew I’d be quick from the get go but I thought once the tires would come up to temp it would even off too much.”
REPOST TO CONGRATULATE KYLE LARSON ON HIS NASCAR CUP SERIES WIN AT SONOMA! pic.twitter.com/DgKGNH2pLI
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 9, 2024
“Thankful that we had enough grip. Thankful, too, that those guys got racing and [Martin Truex Jr.] never got clear really to where I could get stuck in third and that really saved the race. I thought, too, once he got the lead, I’m like, man, I hope he doesn’t have somebody to judge off of here into Turn 4 and he misses apex, and sure enough, he did, and I had a big run Just an awesome, awesome race car. Valvoline, every time we have Valvoline on the car, I feel like we’re really fast. Thanks to Valvoline, Hendrickcars.com, Chevrolet, Jinya Ramen Bar, Prime, too. Just cool to win at home, drink some wine here in a little bit and go celebrate.”
Larson can now put the waiver controversy behind him as he focuses on the 2024 NASCAR playoffs. The driver of the No. 5 car regained the lead in the point standings at Sonoma, despite missing the race with the most points available. Larson has been the best driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, and it shouldn’t slow down anytime soon for the No. 5 team.
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