“That Was Crazy Close”- Kyle Larson’s Crew Chief Is Left Spellbound After the Iconic Victory at Kansas

The NASCAR battle is still on between Chevrolet and Toyota as the third manufacturer Ford is yet to register a win. While they were 0.001 seconds close to winning their inaugural race of the season at Kansas Speedway, with RFK Racing’s #17 Chris Buescher almost sure to clinch the race, Kyle Larson came out to spoil his plans. The spectators grasped in wonder as NASCAR saw the closest finish ever in its history at 0.001 seconds. Even Larson couldn’t believe that he won, until authorities sought help from their world class cameras to decide on the winner. The same happened to Larson’s #5 team’s crew chief Cliff Daniels.

Cliff Daniels was pretty sure the #5 team didn’t win

Daniels opened up to Sirius XM NASCAR Radio regarding the race and mentioned how he could not believe that Larson grabbed his second win. Even though he is at the top of the table, this was Larson’s second Cup Series win of the season. Needless to mention, the No. 5 HMS squad was desperate to receive the checkered flag all these days. The wait was worth it, as stated by his crew chief.

He said, “Yeah it was cool at the end. I knew Kyle was gonna get a good restart. And honestly, the move he made going to Turn 1 was a big deal to set him up at track position… And honestly he had a great run through 3 and 4. End up against the wall and kind of drag raced down to the finish. When we crossed the finish line, my timing in scoring trips showed 17 (Buescher) ahead of us. That is why, when he asked me, did we have it? My answer was no. Cause I didn’t think we did. Yeah I mean, the way they decided by the camera, I saw the picture, that was crazy close.

He remarked that it was a special day and also expressed pride in the team’s performance during the critical moments of the race. He acknowledged that the caution called towards the end was a stroke of luck, but overall felt it was a positive day for the team. Moving ahead to a new journey altogether, Larson indeed needed this win to boost his confidence and, especially, ahead of his IndyCar stint.

Kyle Larson has a packed schedule in 2024

Kyle Larson recently debuted on the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, driving the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet during the Rookie Orientation Program. This event served as an important initial step in Larson’s pursuit of the “Hendrick 1100”, which will include competing in both the 2024 Indianapolis 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600. During the test, Larson clocked a remarkable fastest lap at 217.898 mph. This occasion also marked Rick Hendrick’s first venture onto the track as a team owner in the NTT IndyCar Series. They are collaborating with Arrow McLaren for the No. 17 Chevrolet IndyCar entry.

Larson is on a quest to become only the fifth driver ever to complete the Memorial Day weekend “double”. This feat was last attempted by Kurt Busch, in 2014. However, a blown engine during the Coca-Cola 600 stood in the way of him attaining glory. Having said that, even Larson seems confident as the iconic feat inches forward.

“Everything I’ve felt so far, honestly doesn’t feel that different. I think the way the Next Gen cars are, I think they’ve transitioned closer to what an IndyCar is. Independent suspension, the tires and wheels that we have in NASCAR now, are shorter sidewalls. When I tested at Phoenix and made some laps. I was like, what I feel in my hands and my butt a little bit, but mostly my hands. With the front tires, it feels a lot like the Next Gen car,” he said in an interview.

As expected, the #5 driver’s entry into the NTT IndyCar Series has sparked anticipation among fans. They are keenly looking forward to his performance in the legendary Indy 500 later this year. Are you excited? Say tuned to EssentiallySports for all the latest updates on the driver’s upcoming shenanigans.