Kyle Larson and HMS #5’s plan to split the pit stop between the stages has taken a huge hit. During Lap 170 of the race in Stage 2, Kyle Busch’s No. 8 car got loose and rammed into the wall. However, Busch was able to get control of his racecar back, but officials had flagged off a caution. Thus, in turn, the HMS team washed out the plans to stay in the lead, while the group that pitted early was to pit again at the end of stage 2.

Frustrated by the incident, Larson’s crew chief, Cliff Daniels, said on the radio, “That scr*ws up, doesn’t it?” Having won stage 1, Larson’s car was the quickest of the bunch, but given the circumstances, he will now have to weave his way through the traffic and contest against the likes of Martin Truex Jr, Josh Berry, and Joey Logano to reclaim his lost lead. However, given how quick the #5 car is, it won’t be a surprise if he is back contesting for the top positions.

Larson’s pit strategy was undone by Busch’s crash during Stage 2

Kyle Larson’s #5 car has been on tune ever since the race got underway at Richmond with the wet weather tires. Battling with Bubba Wallace for the lead during stage 1, he managed to hold his own and clinch the stage win. The competitive pit stops weren’t allowed by officials as the crew was still drying the wet pit road. So this allowed Larson to further extend his lead at the top of the field upon the restart.

With Stage 2 reaching the halfway mark, many of the drivers chose to pit, but Larson and his team had devised a plan for themselves in splitting their pit stops. So he and Wallace, along with seven other cars, stayed out while the rest of the field pitted for a change of tires and adjustments. His plan seemed to be working, and he had everything under control when he decided to pit.

After his stop, Larson was banking on the leading pack of Truex Jr, Berry, and Logano to pit while he was a lap down, but Kyle Busch ran his car into the wall, thus resulting in the third caution of the race. Not only did this break Larson’s pitting strategy, but he was now tasked with racing against several cars trying to reclaim the lead.

In the aftermath of the questionable caution by the officials, Martin Truex Jr was able to make the most of the situation, bagging himself the Stage 2 win.

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Larson is still in the hunt for the win against Truex Jr

Despite being handed a big blow to his plans after a smooth run in the evening, Larson managed to gain a couple of positions on the pit road and is back up to speed, competing against the #19 JGR car. With the entirety of the final stage left to race, Kyle Larson will be backing himself up to continue on the good run he’s had on the day and build on it.

The crucial moment in deciding the winner of the race could well come down to the pit strategy and timing on the pit road. With Truex and Larson both needing to pit during the final stage, it will be interesting to see if Larson decides to split the final stage in two. Given that the race has been run pretty much clean, without any major wrecks, the strategies laid out by the teams can decide the fate of the race.

Given how JGR drivers Christopher Bell and homeboy Denny Hamlin are gaining positions, it will make for a thrilling finish for the fans to witness.

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