Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace have shared some exciting moments in the past few weeks. Last week’s Richmond Cup race brought some excitement involving these two prominent figures in NASCAR. During the penultimate lap of the Toyota Owners’ 400, the No. 23 Camry driver spun the No. 5 Chevy, resulting in overtime and a significant change in the race result. After the race, the duo resolved their issues, with the Toyota driver publicly apologizing for his actions.
Now, for the second consecutive weekend, Larson and Wallace are in the spotlight, this time competing for the pole position during qualifying. In the final session, Wallace managed a lap time of 19.719s, securing the provisional pole position. He was hopeful to start the race in front on Sunday, but Larson dashed those dreams by clocking a lap time of 19.718s to steal the pole.
Wallace watched his HMS rivals’ pole lap with great anticipation and had a priceless reaction. Previously, he attributed karma to Larson’s misfortune and believed that the same karma had followed him this week. Despite this, Wallace graciously congratulated Larson on his pole victory as soon as he arrived in the pit area.
During his post-qualifying interview, Larson was asked about the comments made by his Toyota rival. In response, Larson stated that he believed the score had already been settled when he secured a third-place finish in Richmond, despite the clash between them. He also noted that Wallace’s race was disrupted during the pit stop. Both drivers seem to be enjoying the lighthearted rivalry they have developed.
Larson emphasized the importance of the pole position for him, as it would allow him to compete again at the front on Sunday and potentially secure his second win of the season. He also acknowledged that track position is crucial in the Next-Gen era, especially on short tracks. Fans can expect an intense battle between Wallace and Larson from the start on Sunday.
