Kyle Larson’s Day Takes Dramatic Turn After Running Third at Chicagoland

Kyle Larson appeared to have one of the cars to beat through the opening stage of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway.

After starting second, Larson finished second in Stage 1 and was running third early in Stage 2 when his afternoon suddenly changed.

The No. 5 Chevrolet snapped loose exiting Turn 4, spun across the apron and slid into the muddy grass, bringing out the caution and dramatically changing the complexion of his race.

Larson’s Strong Start Ends With Costly Spin

Larson had spent the opening portion of Sunday’s race firmly inside the top three after qualifying on the front row alongside pole winner Denny Hamlin.

But only a handful of laps into Stage 2, disaster struck.

Television replays appeared to show Larson’s Chevrolet bouncing over one of Chicagoland’s rough bumps exiting Turn 4 before the car broke loose and spun into the infield grass. His car became stuck in the mud, leaving Larson unable to move under his own power.

Over the radio, Larson summed up the situation in two words.

“I’m stuck.”

Safety crews eventually pulled the No. 5 Chevrolet free, but Larson’s problems were far from over.

Damage Continues to Mount for the No. 5 Team

After being dragged from the muddy grass, Larson reported another issue.

“I’m beached. I’m [expletive].”

The car suffered a flat tire and scraped the racing surface as Larson slowly limped around Chicagoland Speedway trying to reach pit road. Radio traffic indicated significant damage underneath the Chevrolet, with the car making loud scraping noises throughout the lap.

Larson eventually reached pit road after completing nearly a full lap with the damaged race car, allowing the Hendrick Motorsports team to begin repairs.

The incident came after crew chiefs spent the weekend warning that Chicagoland’s aging surface and unique bumps could become one of Sunday’s biggest challenges. Earlier in the weekend, several teams identified the rough pavement, particularly exiting Turn 4, as one of the biggest unknowns heading into the race.

Larson’s race had already started with adversity. The No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet failed pre-race inspection twice before passing on its third attempt Saturday, resulting in crew chief Jesse Saunders being ejected for the remainder of the weekend and the team losing pit stall selection.

The two-time Cup Series champion eventually reached pit road at Chicagoland after completing nearly a full lap with the damaged Chevrolet, allowing the Hendrick Motorsports team to make repairs. He later returned to the race, but radio traffic indicated the No. 5 still had “a lot less grip” than before the incident as Larson continued several laps off the pace.