Connect with us

NASCAR Cup Series

Kyle Larson’s Clash Hopes Hang on Last Chance Qualifier

Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson faces tough odds to qualify for Sunday night’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium with the 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier. (Photo: Phil Cavali | The Podium Finish)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — In most NASCAR Cup Series races, let alone any motorsports event, Kyle Larson is a factor on race day without qualifying being a concern.

Then again, most races are not the Cook Out Clash at the notorious, 0.25-mile Bowman Gray Stadium. Larson, who raced at “The Madhouse” during his ARCA Menards Series East days, starts 10th — in Sunday evening’s Last Chance Qualifier.

Despite posting the second fastest time in the practice sessions, that was before rubber accumulated on the track. More times than not, the 32-year-old Elk Grove, California, native struggled to find the optimum line during Saturday evening’s on track sessions.

In Larson’s final practice round, essentially setting up the grid for the Heat Races, he locked his front wheels. The 2021 Cup champion mustered only the 22nd fastest time.

Earning the sixth starting spot in Heat Race No. 2, Larson never got into a rhythm, getting caught up in a midfield kerfuffle. Relegated to an eighth place finish, Larson has a long way to qualify for the 200-lap main event.

Prior to on track sessions, Larson shared his thoughts on taking on the bullring.

Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson took on the Bowman Gray Stadium during Saturday’s Cook Out Clash preliminaries. (Photo: Phil Cavali | The Podium Finish)

“I’m sure it’ll be tough to pass this weekend,” Larson said in a team press release. “I hope we can give the fans the kind of exciting racing they’re used to seeing on a Saturday night in the summer. I’m sure the energy will be high in the stands – and be crazy on the track, too.”

If Saturday’s preliminaries served as any indicators, passing opportunities must happen early and with fervor. Patience and guile might not mean a great deal with surviving the confines of this stock car arena.

For racing fans who look forward to this annual prelude to the DAYTONA 500, Larson likes the idea of rotating the Clash on a periodic basis. Particularly, this is the first weekend with Cup cars on this venue since 1971.

“I think going to L.A. was great. I think that was huge for our sport,” Larson said. “It was fun for all of us involved. I think coming to Bowman Gray is amazing, as well. You’re not resurrecting this place, but you’re still tapping into your roots a lot coming to this event here. I think spending two or three years at a place is great.

“But I do think the L.A. thing was great because it proved that they could take that model to different venues, so I would like to see us tap into that a lot. But also, going to Rockingham or something like that would be cool. You know, I think seeing the Cup Series back there, whether it be a points-paying race, the Clash or something, I think that would be neat.”

Regardless if Larson advances or not into Sunday’s Cook Out Clash, like every other competitor, Larson’s sights will be on the 67th DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 16, the season opener for the Cup Series.

Kyle Larson

If Kyle Larson hopes to contend in the main event, he must finish in the top two of Sunday evening’s Last Chance Qualifier at Bowman Gray. (Photo: Phil Cavali | The Podium Finish)

Biding his time last year and getting swept up in crashes between 2018 to 2023, Larson’s approach when Daytona Speedweeks ensues on Feb. 12 is simple — treat it like any other race weekend.

“It doesn’t really matter how the beginning of my year kind of goes,” he observed. “To me, the Chili Bowl always feels like the end of the year.. end of the season. Yes, it’s obviously a race that I would really like to win some day, but I try not to treat it any differently than any other race. I put the same amount of focus in as others. I think as I’ve gained more experience, it doesn’t feel any bigger than the other races.

“I think, like I said, you just treat it the same and I think you go in with less.. not that I ever have nerves, but any anticipation of what might happen and stuff. I feel like we’ve improved a lot on superspeedways, as well. I feel like we’re contending throughout most parts of the race.. end of the stages, end of the races. It just hasn’t quite worked out, but I think if you can keep putting yourself into contention, it’ll work out someday.. hopefully. Yeah, we’ll keep trying our best and hopefully we can get that last crown jewel.”

Rob Tiongson is a sports writer and editor originally from the Boston area and resides in the Austin, Texas, area. Tiongson has covered motorsports series like NASCAR and INDYCAR since 2008 and NHRA since 2013. Most recently, Tiongson is covering professional basketball, mainly the WNBA, and women's college basketball. While writing and editing for The Podium Finish, Tiongson currently seeks for a long-term sportswriting and sports content creating career. Tiongson enjoys editing and writing articles and features, as well as photography. Moreover, he enjoys time with his family and friends, traveling, cooking, working out and being a fun uncle or "funcle" to his nephew, niece and cat. Tiongson is an alum of Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and St. Bonaventure University's renowned Jandoli School of Communication with a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in NASCAR Cup Series