Kyle Larson saddles up for Saturday’s qualifying session for the Food City 500 at Bristol. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
BRISTOL, Tenn. — When it comes to driving at the 0.533-mile Bristol Motor Speedway, Kyle Larson is prepared to do battle for 500 laps like Pedro Martinez at Yankee Stadium in his prime.
Like Martinez, a Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, Larson loves to compete at the stadium-like venue. The 2021 Bristol Night Race winner thrives at “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile” and nearly pulled off a worst to first effort last September.
Overall, the 31-year-old Elk Grove, California, native has a win, five top fives and 10 top 10s in 15 starts on the concrete surface. Certainly, he knows what it takes to contend consistently for a win or frontrunner’s finish at the short track.
Prior to the Food City 500 race weekend at Bristol, Larson made it clear how elated he was about the track’s spring date returning to the concrete surface.
“I’m glad we’re back to two races on the concrete at Bristol,” Larson said in a team press release. “Even growing up on dirt, I prefer the high banks on the concrete. It’s one of the coolest places to race at and I have had a lot of success there. I’m hoping for another great result this weekend.”
Sunday’s Food City 500 will be Larson’s first start in the concrete surface since the 2019 running when he started 16th and struggled to a 19th place finish. In fact, that outlying result is his only finish outside the top 10 in his nine starts at Bristol.
Since joining the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 efforts in 2021, Larson has an impressive average finish of 2.67. Although his average starting position prior to Saturday’s on-track activities was 15.33, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion has gotten the job done on race day.
Before Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions, Cliff Daniels, Larson’s crew chief, expressed elation and confidence about Bristol’s return to the concrete surface and his driver’s comfort with the track.
“It’s going to be exciting for us to head back to Bristol and run on the concrete in the springtime again,” Daniels said. “It’s been a little while…the cooler temps are definitely going to provide a lot of speed and grip in the track. Hopefully, the weather is nice for the weekend.
“It’ll be great to learn a thing or two that we can apply to the fall and just work through executing a really good weekend. Kyle loves the track, so I love Bristol and the whole team loves Bristol. In general, we’re looking forward to the weekend.”
Kyle Larson rolls off 10th after a bobble in Turn 3 cost him a shot at the pole for Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol. (Photo: Josh James | The Podium Finish)
On Saturday afternoon, Larson was 17th fastest in the practice session, ranking a lowly 29th in the 10-lap consecutive average charts. However, he had a car that could have challenged for the pole during the final qualifying round.
A costly slip up in Turn 3 forced Larson to cut his pole running attempt short, relegating himself to the 10th starting position. Starting on the outside of Row 5 alongside Bubba Wallace, Larson’s prospects to contend for the win on Sunday afternoon are about 26 positions better than last fall’s Playoff race.
Even before Larson saddled into his No. 5 car, he anticipated Bristol being more of the same with the inside line being preferable until the middle and outside grooves are rubbered in during the race.
“Mostly the same,” Larson considered when speaking to Peter Stratta. “I’m curious to get on track and see how this resin or whatever that’s supposedly different is supposed to feel. Bristol is Bristol. You’re going to catch lapped traffic and you have to get around [them]. I don’t foresee it looking way different. But it could be slightly different.”
The more things change, the more they stay the same with Larson and his No. 5 team prepared to do battle at the concrete-laden Bristol. With a win at Las Vegas in the books, Larson considered the prospects of a 10-win season, a feat that typically denotes a great year for a Cup racer.
“I think it’s always possible,” he said. “William [Byron, Larson’s teammate] won six races last year and probably could’ve won more. If things are going right, you can do it. It’d be tougher than before. There’s always an opportunity.”
