BRISTOL, Tenn. — Per week after Kyle Larson spent a lot of the race within the storage at Darlington, he spent a lot of the race within the lead at Bristol en path to his second victory of the season.
Each races might show crucial in Larson’s bid for a second Cup title and Hendrick Motorsports’ quest for its first Cup championship in 4 seasons — a drought for NASCAR’s most profitable group.
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Per week in the past, Larson’s mistake despatched his No. 5 automotive into the wall much less 5 laps into the race. He spent greater than 160 laps within the storage as his group made repairs. Larson solely gained one place — going from thirty eighth to thirty seventh — however there was extra that crew chief Cliff Daniels and the group acquired from the expertise.
“There are such a lot of beneficial issues that we took away simply from a course of standpoint and even working with NASCAR,” Daniels stated. “One thing I’ll spotlight is how eager they had been on us rebuilding the automotive with all the right security points nonetheless within the automotive. Daggone it, if we did not hit the wall once more in the identical spot, and the automotive was secure, and all these issues had been executed.
“It was two-fold, and a group train of getting a automotive that was put collectively effectively, again on observe that we might go work on efficiency.”
NASCAR: Meals Metropolis 500
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The Hendrick Motorsports star led 411 of 500 laps three days after his former PR rep died.
Sunday at Bristol, Larson led 411 of 500 laps to attain his second consecutive victory at this high-banked half-mile observe.
“ … To make a deep run within the playoffs, you need to know the right way to push that fringe of your group to go do the execution gadgets to qualify effectively, to pit from the entrance, to stick with it entrance, Kyle managing the lanes because the chief, restarts, communication, timing,” Daniels stated. “A whole lot of these issues are simply important elements.”
However work stays for Larson’s group — and people of his teammates at Hendrick Motorsports — to provide the group its first title since Larson received the 2021 crown. Solely as soon as since 1995 has Hendrick Motorsports gone 4 consecutive years with out successful the Cup crown.
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“We now have excessive requirements,” stated Jeff Gordon, chairman of Hendrick Motorsports. “So it has been good. And I believe we have been glad (with performances this 12 months). However no, we’re undoubtedly not glad. … I believe we’re nonetheless behind in relation to trying on the 10 (playoff) races and the championship.
“There’s some actual good tracks in there for us, however there are some tracks which might be regarding, and we wish to get to Phoenix. I believe Phoenix proper now, we’re not the group to beat, and we have an extended method to go, fortunately, and I hope we will discover it.
“We now have the most effective individuals within the enterprise to have the ability to try this. Race wins like in the present day are rewarding in some ways and can encourage us, however this isn’t Phoenix, and I believe we all know that.”
NASCAR: Meals Metropolis 500
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The Hendrick Motorsports star devoted the victory to his late PR rep.
Daniels additionally acknowledges what stays forward for he and his group.
“We nonetheless do consider that there is extra efficiency to go get on the Gateways and Loudons and Martinsvilles, and particularly Phoenix,” he stated. “That we have been slightly bit behind a few of these different guys.
“There’s work on the market forward of us that we have to go get and discover the little bits of efficiency, however definitely having the dichotomy of such a dismal Sunday every week in the past and the good Sunday that we had in the present day is necessary for our group. We’ll continue to grow and constructing on it, and nonetheless an extended season forward.”
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Sunday was an extended race for Larson’s rivals.
“I believe the (No.) 5 was the most effective,” stated Denny Hamlin, who completed second to Larson. “Automobile and driver was the most effective in the present day. That was all I needed to to run them down and keep near them. … I believe it was a factor the place he certified effectively, set the tone early with the tempo and by no means regarded again. … They’re on their recreation. After they hit it, they’re exhausting to beat.”
