For the primary time since 2011, Hendrick Motorsports managed to put all 4 of their automobiles within the prime ten at Talladega Superspeedway. They gained that race with Jimmie Johnson, however sadly for HMS, the most effective consequence they might handle this weekend was second.
Within the closing laps, the Hendrick duo of William Byron of Alex Bowman led the surface lane whereas Kyle Larson was the second automobile on the within behind eventual race winner Austin Cindric. There have been moments the place Larson cleared his teammates, however he by no means selected to maneuver up in entrance of them. Ryan Preece, who was proper behind Larson, did simply that and almost gained the race because of this.
Larson’s determination to remain low
“I do not assume there was something I may have carried out on the ultimate lap,” defined Larson as he mirrored on the end. “The one type of second I needed to get to the entrance row is once we obtained pushed out in entrance of William. I needed to take it. I felt just like the hole was too massive. The 60 [Preece] barely obtained clear, obtained up there and obtained rolling. “I used to be second inside, simply going to do every thing I may to advance our lane, open it as much as the place I may get to the surface. We have been all simply pushing so equally that it saved the lanes type of jammed up. I wanted one thing else to type of occur, possibly them blocking one another or one thing.”
Larson nonetheless leaves Talladega together with his greatest consequence but on the monitor, ending third and main the HMS quartet. He additionally gained the opening stage of the race.
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs
However what occurred to Byron and Bowman within the prime lane? Byron remained dedicated to pushing Preece, particularly after he turned disconnected from his teammate Bowman on the ultimate lap, who obtained shuffled out of line quickly after. Each Byron and Larson may solely shove the 2 Ford drivers immediately forward of them, by no means making a transfer themselves. Byron ended up ending third whereas Bowman light to seventh, and Chase Elliott quietly completed fifth.
Be aware: These positions have been up to date as each Ryan Preece (initially 2nd) and Joey Logano (fifth) have been disqualified following post-race inspection.
“Not an amazing day,” stated Bowman, who misplaced out on a top-five on the very finish. “I felt like many of the strikes I made all through the day have been a internet loss. Simply a type of days the place none of it labored out. There on the finish, the 24 [Byron] type of zigged left down the backstretch as I obtained to him and that broke us aside and let the 60 [Preece] stand up and take management of the race from there. Hate that for everyone from HMS. I assumed we have been sitting in a great spot and sadly, it simply did not work out.”
The excellent news for HMS is that they continue to be firmly in charge of the common season standings with Byron main the way in which, 32 factors away from Larson.
Pictures from Talladega – Race
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