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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, waits on the track prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, waits on the track prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
One of the biggest talking points, and possibly a controversy in the brew was the block Cole Custer threw towards the end of the race at ROVAL which effectively and indirectly knocked defending Cup champion Kyle Larson out. Or did he?
Custer’s move has polarized the NASCAR community from the inside and outside.
Did he really, intentionally help Chase Briscoe in advancing to the next round over Kyle Larson, or was it a genuine, unintentional move in the thick of emotions and adrenaline towards the closing seconds of the race?
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The answer to all these questions and more will surely follow soon.
But this didn’t stop NASCAR fans from putting out their opinions and thoughts on the whole ‘Custer helps Briscoe to knock out Larson’ narrative. As you’d expect, the reactions fell equally more or less on the two ends of the discourse.
Cole Custer throws a perfect pick to send his teammate to the next round. And Kyle Larson is OUT. WOW!
— Couch Racer (@CouchRacerShop) October 9, 2022
Larson gets screwed yet again!
— Torrance “TJ” Jackson (@actionjackson80) October 9, 2022
Because the 1st rule in NASCAR is you don't fuck with NASCAR which include Hendrick Motorsports.
By knocking Larson out, Custer is literally blackmailed from future competition. I would expect reinstatement of Larson in the "Round of 9" and a lifetime ban…
— GP (@GTD_Racer) October 10, 2022
You mean Cole Custer knocks Kyle Larson out.. good thing that was t a Hendrick car pulling that – all those haters would be singing
— Machelle Kelly (@machelle_kelly) October 9, 2022
Sounds like proof that the team told him to stop so outcome manipulated, eliminate Briscoe and put Larson in
— Connor (@ThatFloridaGuy5) October 9, 2022
You mean like the 9 did for the 5 last year at Bristol? That was not an issue for the 5 CC and didn’t see a reason to have Nascar give it a formal review.
— Mike Harnish (@MikeHarnish5) October 9, 2022
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Kyle Larson blames himself for the state of his season
Kyle Larson was naturally quite dejected after failing to defend his crown in back-to-back years. And yes, there were a lot of factors and moments that played a role in this entire recipe, but the #5 driver found himself to blame for where he stood.
“It’s frustrating to end like this,” Larson said of the race at ROVAL. “As up-and-down as I was this season, I’m not surprised I made a mental mistake, and it cost us at an important time.”
“Just a dumb mistake on my part.”
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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 16: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Apart from the disappointing race at Charlotte Road Course, The Hendrick Motorsports man had a pretty nihilistic view of the entire season as well. “It’s been tough,” he said of this season. “There’s been no real rhythm to it for me and our team.”
Having said that, Larson remains hopeful for next year for a fight back, as all champions always do.
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“We’re going to continue to fight and be better for the rest of the season and be more prepared for next year,” he emphasized.
