BRISTOL, Tenn. — Per week after Kyle Larson spent many of the race within the storage at Darlington, he spent many of the race within the lead at Bristol en path to his second victory of the season.
Each races could show important 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.
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 bought from the expertise.
“There are such a lot of priceless 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 correct security facets nonetheless within the automotive. Daggone it, if we didn’t hit the wall once more in the identical spot, and the automotive was protected, and all these issues had been executed.
“It was two-fold, and a group train of getting a automotive that was put collectively properly, again on monitor that we may go work on efficiency.”
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 monitor.
“ … To make a deep run within the playoffs, it’s important to know the way to push that fringe of your group to go do the execution objects to qualify properly, to pit from the entrance, to stick with it entrance, Kyle managing the lanes because the chief, restarts, communication, timing,” Daniels stated. “Lots of these issues are simply very important elements.”
However work stays for Larson’s group — and people of his teammates at Hendrick Motorsports — to present the group its first title since Larson gained the 2021 crown. Solely as soon as since 1995 has Hendrick Motorsports gone 4 consecutive years with out profitable the Cup crown.
“We’ve got excessive requirements,” stated Jeff Gordon, chairman of Hendrick Motorsports. “So it’s been good. And I believe we’ve been joyful (with performances this 12 months). However no, we’re positively not happy. … I believe we’re nonetheless behind in relation to wanting 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’ve bought a protracted option to go, fortunately, and I hope we will discover it.
“We’ve got the very best individuals within the enterprise to have the ability to try this. Race wins like at present are rewarding in some ways and can inspire us, however this isn’t Phoenix, and I believe we all know that.”
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’s extra efficiency to go get on the Gateways and Loudons and Martinsvilles, and particularly Phoenix,” he stated. “That we’ve been just a little 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 actually having the dichotomy of such a dismal Sunday per week in the past and the nice Sunday that we had at present is necessary for our group. We’re going to continue to grow and constructing on it, and nonetheless a protracted season forward.”
Sunday was a protracted race for Larson’s rivals.
“I believe the (No.) 5 was the very best,” stated Denny Hamlin, who completed second to Larson. “Automotive and driver was the very best at present. That was all I needed to to run them down and keep near them. … I believe it was a factor the place he certified properly, set the tone early with the tempo and by no means regarded again. … They’re on their recreation. Once they hit it, they’re exhausting to beat.”
