In this case, Kyle Larson feels today’s AAA Texas 500 serves as his best shot at the Championship 4. (Photo Credit: Matteo Marcheschi/TPF)
Without delay, Kyle Larson immediately expressed confidence with his chances for today’s AAA Texas 500 from the moment he and his team arrived at the track. After all, the 27-year-old takes to the Texas Motor Speedway with quick cars.
Still, this treacherous track likens to a Nick Lowe song in that it’s “Cruel to Be Kind” with the Californian. Certainly, there are times his strong performances are rewarded by equally notable finishes.
On the other hand, Larson’s promising runs are curtailed by elements out of his control.
However, the driver of No. 42 McDonald’s Chevrolet reflected on his performances in recent years. All things considered, he enjoys the challenge of Texas Motor Speedway, especially since the 2017 refit.
Altogether, Larson relishes the challenge of Texas Motor Speedway. (Photo Credit: Sean Folsom/TPF)
“We’re always really fast here at Texas, especially since the repave,” Larson said. “I’ve just had a crash and two blown right front tires. I’ve always ran really well here.
If you just look at a piece of paper, you’d think that I don’t run well here. But we’re always really fast. We’ve just got to keep the right front holding some air.”
By all means, a right front tire curtailed a promising effort for Larson this past March at O’Reilly Auto Parts 500. Prior to his Turn 2 crash, he ran well inside the top-10, marching his way from a 22nd starting position.
In fact, one may point out how Larson’s record at Texas likens to his efforts in 2019. Of course, there are ebbs and flows with those results. But, the seventh-year racer turned his season around, reeling off seven top-fives, 16 top-10’s, a pole, and a win at Dover.
Recently, Larson scored an impressive ninth-place finish at Martinsville, a track that’s been a thorn in his side. On this occasion, the paper clip speedway treated the hardy bunch quite kindly all while making a mid-race gamble.
Surviving the Martinsville mayhem, Larson wants an AAA Texas 500 win. (Photo Credit: Sean Folsom/TPF)
“Well at Martinsville, we talked about it,” he said. “I mentioned it to them in the team meeting. If the opportunity ever presented itself, we needed to take advantage of getting some Stage points. And it happened that the caution fell at the right time where we knew everybody was going to pit and there was only going to be a few laps left to the finish of that Stage.
We opted to stay out, get those Stage points, and just give up a little bit of track position and still have half the race to get that back. So, I feel like we did the best job we could last week to get the most points out of the day that we could. So, I was happy about that and it kind of kept our hopes alive.”
Indeed, Larson continues his workmanlike Playoffs efforts with today’s AAA Texas 500. Given these points, a win at Texas Motor Speedway means more than Playoff points.
Ultimately, Kyle Larson suddenly becomes the most dangerous title contender at Homestead, a possibility that’s not far from reality. Fittingly, the racer who tenaciously fought his way to the Round of 8 becomes the man to beat when it truly counts.
