Kyle Larson Shatters Jeff Gordon’s NASCAR Record at Kansas

On Sunday, October 24th, Kyle Larson stormed to victory at the Kansas Speedway. In the buildup to the race, he was a mere 50+ laps away from Jeff Gordon’s tally. Apparently, Gordon amassed a mammoth 2320 laps as a race leader in a 36-race season. After the Texas race though, Larson moved to 2267 laps, and was on pole for the Kansas race.

Needless to say, it was a foregone conclusion that he would break the record, barring something dramatic. Eventually, not only did he break the record, he shattered it when he won the race. It is also worth mentioning that this is his ninth win of the season. To make matters even better, Larson has already established himself as a title favorite.

Kyle Larson has been in excellent form

Without a doubt, the #5 Hendrick Motorsports driver is almost a shoe-in for the title. With his win at Texas, he qualified for the season finale at the Phoenix Raceway. However, his Kansas win has made things a little more difficult for his rivals. This is because, there is one race left and three spots up for grabs, with seven contenders.

All around him, it seems that records are tumbling, and the Jeff Gordon record was just the latest. Larson is undoubtedly talented and will be heavily focused on the remaining two Cup Series races. Next on the hit list is the Martinsville Speedway, a track that he has never won at, and the same goes for the Phoenix Raceway. However, there is always a first time for everything.

Read more: Kyle Larson on the Verge of Breaking a 20-Year-Old Record at Kansas This Weekend

Why was this a very special finish?

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Mr. Rick Hendrick, the owner of Hendrick Motorsports, had lost his son Ricky to an unfortunate plane crash. It happened on October 24, 2004, when a Beechcraft Super King airplane crashed and led to a tragic death of this 24-YO stock car racer.

And now, as fate would have it, Kyle Larson won his record-setting Kansas race exactly 17 years after that incident. Reportedly, both Rick and his wife Linda could not physically watch Kyle create history, but the team owner texted the 29-YO to wish him luck before this important race. After the win, Kyle’s gesture towards the sky was a telltale about the bigger meaning behind this ninth season win.

But now, the No.5 Chevrolet Camaro driver will have his eyes and mind on the next race. Of course, the driver will be wary of his seven rivals, as anything can happen in a NASCAR race. Additionally, the non-Playoff driver may not be so mindful around them, as Kyle Busch can attest to. One thing is for sure, the final two races of the 2021 NASCSR Cup Series season, will be highly entertaining.

Watch this story: Best Moments from Kansas Nascar Cup Series