Kyle Larson is enjoying a stunning run in the Cup Series in the 2024 campaign. Last Sunday, he registered his fourth victory of the season as he triumphed in the Brickyard 400. Naturally, celebrations at the highest level took place with Larson’s wife Katelyn at the forefront of it. However, the fashion in which the win came hasn’t gone down well with the NASCAR community, and it showed evidently.
It isn’t that Larson is not a popular driver in the Cup Series. However, with success comes hatred, and it is too easy to be involved in controversies. One such event occurred in Indiana on Sunday as the Hendrick Motorsports driver reached closer to winning the regular season championship this year. In fact, with just four races remaining, Larson steered 10 points clear of his teammate and second-placed Chase Elliott.
Kyle Larson believes destiny played a big part in his emphatic win at the Brickyard 400
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On Memorial Day weekend, Kyle Larson attempted The Double, but Mother Nature had different plans. While he failed to turn a lap in the Coca-Cola 600, his Indy 500 run didn’t turn out to be as productive as desired. With fortune playing a big role in his failed double attempt, destiny ensured his run in Indiana on Sunday wasn’t wasted in the Cup Series.
Before the second-to-last restart, then-race leader Brad Keselowski ran out of fuel. While the #6 driver took his car down to the pit road, it left second-placed Ryan Blaney as the control car. However, during the second-to-last restart, Larson appeared to have accelerated early as he took the lead before a caution came out in turn one.
CAUTION IS OUT. Repost to congratulate Kyle Larson on his Brickyard 400 WIN at Indianapolis Motor Speedway! pic.twitter.com/g5X34sNnGJ
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) July 21, 2024
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Did Kyle Larson really deserve the Brickyard 400 win, or was it handed to him?
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Unsurprisingly, this helped the HMS driver pull away from Blaney before eventually registering a historic win in Indiana. While how Larson ended up victorious might be debatable, credit has to go to him and his team for their fuel strategy. Naturally, the #5 driver looked ecstatic after the win, especially after what happened in May.
As reported by ESPN, Larson said, “Today was definitely meant to be for us with the way the strategy was working out and all that fell into place. I just can’t believe it. It’s just surreal to win here.” Indeed, it was a massive moment for Kyle Larson, his team, and his family. As seen frequently, his wife Katelyn made a presence in Victory Lane and joined the celebrations.
Over the years, she has developed her own style of celebrating by shotgunning beers. As Katelyn looked to honor her husband’s emphatic victory, she once again carried out her iconic celebration. While she did that and many fans enjoyed it, some didn’t quite enjoy the fashion in which Kyle Larson registered his victory.
Tastes like victory. 🍺 pic.twitter.com/hu2ODoBEFP
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 22, 2024
To vent out their frustration, a few from the NASCAR community slammed the celebration.
Kyle Larson’s controversial move at the Brickyard 400 attracts debate
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After Brad Keselowski pitted, Ryan Blaney kept pushing hard to pass Kyle Larson at the Brickyard 400. While he looked keen on effectively taking the lead, things took a dramatic turn when Ryan Preece spun out seconds before the white flag was waved. Interestingly, the caution flag came out only once the white flag was waved. Unsurprisingly, this created a lot of controversy given the timing of the caution flag.
It is important to note that the delay in the caution coming out ensured Larson was the official race winner. Naturally, this did not go down well with the fans, as they accused NASCAR of favoring the Hendrick Motorsports driver. In fact, the fandom took out their anger on social media when NASCAR posted Katelyn Larson shotgunning a beer.
While the post read “Tastes like victory,” it attracted some interesting comments from the fans. One fan reacted by saying, “Tastes like race manipulation,” indicating the delay in the caution flag coming out. Another fan wrote along similar lines as he said, “I think I saw my first rigged race.”
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Naturally, shots were fired at NASCAR left, right, and center. One fan commented, “Yall are THE most consistently inconsistent sanctioning body in the world. Good god.” Some fans went too far with their reaction, as they took a jibe at Katelyn as well. One said, “I hate her with a passion.” Another one added, “She look like a cheater fasho”.
Regardless of how correct or incorrect NASCAR was with its caution decision, nothing can be done now. While this event helped Larson, it would be interesting to see how this outcome makes a difference in the 2024 regular season championship race. Will Kyle Larson go all the way this year? Well, it is an answer only time can tell.
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Did Kyle Larson really deserve the Brickyard 400 win, or was it handed to him?