Homestead-Miami Speedway was a microcosm of Kyle Larson's entire season. A quick automobile, shocking failures, unforced errors and extraordinary comebacks – and ultimately it was all for naught.
An unexpectedly cut tire sent Larson into the wall and out of contention for much of Sunday's race. Just as he was making little progress, Chris Buescher's automobile spun out and compelled him to come back to a whole stop within the pits. No one expected to see him on the front again, but he still managed to return to the sector. In the ultimate 15 laps he closed on Ryan Blaney and took the race lead, then tried to extend his lead mid-race as they caught as much as Austin Dillon, but he spun off the track.
To his credit, Larson saved the ball and was still third on the track, but slow braking to repair the diffuser flap put him in the midst of the pack. He finished the day because the seventh-worst driver within the playoffs, ending thirteenth. It gave the impression of it was going to finish badly for him and that's the story of his 12 months in a few of these races.
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro
Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
While no driver may even match Larson in laps led this season, and he has twice as many race wins as the subsequent event, there have been so many “almost” wins that haven't materialized either. The same cycle appears to be repeating itself for the motive force of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. A quick automobile, a dominant performance, bad luck and/or an unforced error, sometimes followed by a formidable comeback, but almost at all times too little too late.
It's a bit like his attempt at “The Double,” where every little thing was going great until he got a speeding penalty on the ultimate stop of the Indianapolis 500. Despite his disappointment, he boarded the plane and sped to Charlotte, determined to be the primary driver to finish it. a challenge for a decade. He arrived just in time for rain, which ended the Coke 600 prematurely.
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro, Chris Buescher, RFK Racing, Fifth Third Bank Ford Mustang, Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports, Grillo's Pickles Ford Mustang, Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, Rheem Toyota Camry wreck
Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
The inconsistency and volatile nature of his season is one among the explanations he lost the regular season championship. Missing 600 points didn't help, but there have been a mountain of points left on the table and he lost to Tyler Reddick by only one point. That handful of additional points could come back to haunt him in just a few days.
But could this really occur? Will Larson's 2024 title run mimic his attempted victory at Homestead, his missed opportunity to win the regular season title, or his pursuit of the double, ultimately slipping through his grasp regardless of how hard he tries?
It wouldn't be the primary time the “best” driver of the 12 months didn't even get a likelihood in Phoenix. Kevin Harvick involves mind in 2020, who seemed unstoppable until he didn’t earn one among the 4 coveted finals spots. It was an abrupt end to a championship-worthy season, and it felt strange to crown a champion with this 12 months's dominant force on the sidelines. And it could occur again here.
Joey Logano and Reddick beat everyone with impressive victories in Round 8, and Larson now enters the penultimate race of the 12 months seven points below the cut line. Yes, he can race on points with William Byron and maybe advance that way, but a win will probably be needed. At Homestead, three drivers in a must-win situation were leading 1-2-3 on the last lap. Looking on the table, the three drivers below Larson might be at the highest of the grid next weekend.
As for Martinsville, Larson himself admitted that “it's not my best track” and the motive force he's chasing [Byron] he happens to be the last winner there. Interestingly, Larson was second on this race. Although which may be little consolation. Denny Hamlin has more Virginia short track wins than every other lively driver, Ryan Blaney has the very best average, Chase Elliott is at all times a hot spot at Martinsville, and everyone seems to be below Larson within the rankings entering the Round 8 elimination race.
We're actually beginning to feel like we're destined to see this format smash the season of one other driver worthy of competing for the championship. But hey, if we're going to take a look at trends… the Round 12 and Round 16 qualifying races this 12 months were won by the identical driver, his name was Larson, and he dominated each.
