When the stakes are high, racing gets fierce, and the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway was no exception. With under 20 laps to go, the lead was on the line, and Kyle Larson decided it was now or never. He attempted a daring three-wide pass, trying to slip between Austin Dillon and Ryan Blaney, hoping to position himself for a clear shot at the checkered flag. But in the heat of the moment, contact between Larson and Blaney sent the No. 5 car spinning through Turns 3 and 4, shattering his chance to lock himself into the Championship 4.

The caution flag waved, forcing Larson to pit for repairs. It was a costly stop that dropped him back to 10th, and though he managed to climb a few positions, he ended up finishing 13th. Larson, who had been hoping to capitalize on a win to secure his championship hopes, showed visible disappointment in the aftermath. “That was my shot,” he reflected post-race, acknowledging that the move didn’t pan out as he’d envisioned. Yet, he wasn’t about to lay any blame at Dillon’s feet, explaining that Austin “did nothing wrong.”

Kyle Larson’s take on Austin Dillon not giving him way

The Homestead race was crucial for Kyle Larson if he wanted to make it into the finals. He saw a risky chance after his stage one problem with the flat tire and he took it. In Larson’s view, Dillon could have given him a little more room by letting him take the top lane. After all, Larson had been running well up high and hoped that Dillon, knowing his line, might have given him the space.

Kyle Larson tried to justify the aggressive move, saying, “There was a bit of a hole, and I thought that might be my opportunity to win.” For Larson, the split-second decision was a calculated risk, and he stood by it, even if the result might have gotten him out of the finals.

The #5 felt that Dillon could have been more aware of his surroundings despite admitting that Dillon was not in the wrong. “I was hoping he’d see me coming and maybe give me the top, knowing I was running there,” added Larson.

Austin Dillon, on the other hand, seemed almost unbothered by the incident. His post-race comments were straightforward: he had simply held his line. “I didn’t even know the five was coming, truthfully,” he admitted, brushing off any suggestion that he could have done things differently.

For Dillon, sticking to the wall was his best move, and he seemed confused by the idea that Larson expected any concession. In his eyes, he had made no mistakes, and he was just as focused on his own race as Larson had been on his.

In the end, Larson’s gamble didn’t pay off, and his championship hopes now hang in the balance. Whether Dillon’s lack of extra room was the deciding factor remains debatable, but Larson’s dissatisfaction tells the story of a driver who felt his shot was within reach. After the Homestead race, Larson now sits in the elimination zone at -7 under the cutline, so if he wants to make it to the finals, the next race is make or break for him.

Hendrick Motorsports’ position in the playoffs after Homestead

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Hendrick Motorsports left Homestead-Miami Speedway with mixed emotions and three drivers firmly in the top 10. William Byron’s sixth-place finish keeps him in the best position among the Hendrick drivers, currently sitting fourth in the standings and seven points above the Championship 4 cutline.

William Byron’s strong season and consistency continued at Homestead, where he secured valuable stage points and marked his fifth consecutive top-six finish. With one race left to secure a spot in the final four, Byron can lean on his past success at Martinsville, where he won earlier this season.

Chase Elliott, on the other hand, finds himself in a must-win situation heading into Martinsville. Despite leading 81 laps at Homestead and amassing a race-best 17 stage points, Elliott had a challenging end to his day. On a late restart, he went three-wide for the lead but lost grip, ultimately finishing fifth.

This result leaves him 43 points below the cutline, meaning his only realistic path to Phoenix is a win at Martinsville. It’s a tall order, but Elliott has proven capable under pressure and will be gunning for the top spot.

Well, you already know how Kyle Larson’s day in Miami panned out, so let’s look straight to Martinsville for the #5. The HMS star has been on fire at Martinsville over his last few races. Larson has three top-2 finishes at the track in his last 4 races, including a win in April 2023. The fall race at Martinsville was particularly memorable for all HMS drivers as the three of them occupied the top three spots, with Byron P1, Larson P2, and Elliott P3. The HMS drivers would be hoping for a similar finish, but the fight for the win would be much more fierce this time.

With one race to go and only two seats left in the finals, who do you think will make their way into the top 4? Share your thoughts in the comments below.