A Thrilling Weekend Ends in Disappointment for Kyle Larson as Phoenix Result Leaves the NASCAR Champion With a Bittersweet Taste
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A Thrilling Weekend Ends in Disappointment for Kyle Larson as Phoenix Result Leaves the NASCAR Champion With a Bittersweet Taste
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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 16: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 16: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
No other NASCAR driver would’ve had a more rollercoaster of a weekend than Kyle Larson. The Hendrick driver’s weekend consisted of a milestone race win in the dirt world, a penalty that took him at the back of the field in Phoenix, and an engine problem that ended his race in disappointment.
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Before the racing action began in Phoenix, Larson, a California native, made a pit stop in California itself to take part in the Thunderbowl.
And as many would’ve predicted, the two-time Chili Bowl champion won the event. But what made this win even more special was the fact it was the 25th World of Outlaws win of his career.
After the win, Larson thanked the sold-out arena at Tulare, calling the fans, “some of the best in the country.”
“I always love getting to race in front of these people, especially at places I grew up at. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here, but it was technical and kind of old school the way I remember Tulare,” Larson added.
“This is amazing.”
Saturday’s podium finishers at @TulareRaceway:
🥇 @KyleLarsonRacin (Kozlowski #57)*
🥈 @BradSweet49 (@KKRDirt #49)
🥉 @DavidGravel (@BigGameMotorspt #2) pic.twitter.com/rlFLGZHpaF— World of Outlaws (@WorldofOutlaws) March 13, 2022
Kyle Larson couldn’t repeat the past in Phoenix
After his win in California, Kyle Larson headed to Phoenix, the track where he won his Cup title less than six months ago.
However, despite the glorious past of November 2021 and the weekend in California, Larson’s race ended in disappointment. In fact, even before the race began, he was sent to the back of the field for an unapproved change.
But late in the race, his car faced a problem that eventually led him to finish in 34th place.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, waits on the track prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
After the race, the Hendrick driver said, “Our Valvoline Chevy was pretty good, I thought that we were a fourth or fifth place car. Just was just hoping to be a little better than that. I know they’ll address the issue that seems like we have had the last couple of weeks with some of the engines.”
“We’ll come back strong and reliable. The good thing is we have fast cars, fast engines and great drivers driving these Chevys, so we’ll get some more wins here,” Larson added.
