Top-five effort at Michigan for Larson, HendrickCars.com team
TRACK: Michigan International Speedway
LENGTH: 2.0-mile oval
DATE: Aug. 7, 2023
STARTED: 17th
FINISHED: 5th
STANDINGS: 6th (-137 points)
During practice and qualifying on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway, Kyle Larson secured a 17th-place starting position for the HendrickCars.com team. On Sunday, rain caused a delay to the green flag at the 2-mile long track. Once NASCAR deemed the track dry, the No. 5 driver rolled off 17th for the start of the 400-mile race.
Larson showed speed from the get-go following the green flag. He gained five positions within the first 15 laps of the race. On lap 16, Larson was able to maneuver around an on-track incident in front of him, and was scored in the 12th position when the caution was called. Under the yellow, crew chief Cliff Daniels called Larson down pit road for fuel and left-side tires only. After being cautious to avoid a collision on pit road, Larson chose 18th for the lap-20 restart. The Elk Grove, California, native gained four positions before the second caution occurred just 14 laps later. Daniels told Larson to save fuel and the team opted to stay out when pit road opened. Larson lined up seventh for the restart with six laps to go in the stage. On the final lap of stage one, Larson secured a top-five finish for the No. 5 team in fifth.
During the stage break, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion pitted for four tires and fuel. Many competitors stayed out, causing Larson to choose 21st for the stage-two restart. Just seven laps into the second stage, a caution occurred. Larson stayed out and chose 18th, taking the inside for the restart with 65 laps to go in the stage. A few laps later, an on-track incident occurred in front of Larson, but he was able to navigate around the incident unscratched. Under the yellow, he pitted for right-side tires only and restarted from the third position. On lap 74, another caution occurred for inclement weather forcing the completion of the race to be postponed to Monday.
On Monday, the 31-year-old started the day in the third position. When pit road opened before the green flag, Larson used a differing pit strategy from most of the field and pitted for fuel and left-side tires. With the majority of competitors staying out, he chose 21st, taking the outside lane for the restart with 37 laps to go in the second stage. He quickly advanced into the top 20, racing just behind teammate Alex Bowman for the next 20 laps. On lap 104, a caution occurred with Larson in the 15th position. The HendrickCars.com driver stayed out when pit road opened and restarted seventh with 13 laps to go in the stage. At the end of stage two, Larson was able to pick up an additional position and was scored in sixth place.
At the stage break, Larson pitted for four tires and fuel. Most of the competition stayed out, causing him to choose 18th for the stage-three restart. Before the field could complete a lap, an on-track incident occurred that involved the No. 5 HendrickCars.com driver. He came down pit road for an analysis from his team, four tires and fuel. Daniels reassured Larson that his Chevy appeared intact and mechanically sound. Larson came back down pit road for fuel only and tape on his left-front fender before the restart. He chose 31st, but navigated his way back through the field quickly. About 30 laps later, the green-flag pit cycle began and the No. 5 team held out until near the end trying to catch a caution. After assuming the lead during the cycle, Larson reported his car was loose and visited pit road for adjustments and right-side tires only. At the completion of the pit cycle, Larson was scored in the sixth position with less than 25 laps to go. In the remaining laps, the HendrickCars.com driver picked up an additional position, crossing the line in fifth and secured the No. 5’s 10th top-five finish of the 2023 season.
QUOTING KYLE LARSON:
“After that wreck off of (turn) two, the No. 14 (Chase Briscoe) and I hit pretty decently, and I just felt like we were a little slower after that. I think the handling was still similar, but just a little bit slower overall. We took what we could get out of the day. Happy with the pit strategy there at the end to get some track position and come away with a top-five for the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevy. We’ll take it.”
NEXT RACE:
Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com team head to the Brickyard for the series’ annual event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 200-mile road course race goes green at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA.
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