In the annals of NASCAR history, Kyle Busch’s milestone of sweeping all three national series races at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2017 stands tall. This feat, which was a replication of his 2010 achievement, left fans and fellow drivers in awe, including a young Kyle Larson.
At the time, Larson was still trying to etch his name into NASCAR’s history books. He couldn’t help but admire Busch’s versatility and dominance across multiple racing disciplines. Little did he know that he would soon be on the cusp of replicating Busch’s record, only to have it slip through his fingers in the most heart-wrenching manner.
During the Homestead-Miami weekend, Larson, a driver for Hendrick Motorsports, got a shot at immortality. He was slated to compete in all three national series with high hopes to replicate Busch’s triple-header sweep. He aced the Truck Series race, had the Xfinity race within his grasp, and proved his mettle on Sunday when he clinched the Cup Series checkered flag. However, a single misstep on Saturday denied Larson the chance to join Busch in the record books.
Larson’s ambition to pull off a special feat in Homestead-Miami was palpable. He started strong, bagging the Truck Series race on Friday night, despite a late-race spin. His performance in the Xfinity Series on Saturday was nothing short of dominant, leading 132 of 201 laps and building up a 16-second lead.
But in the world of NASCAR, a smooth race is a rare occurrence. An untimely caution shook things up, leading to an overtime restart. The game-changing moment arrived when Sam Mayer collided with Larson, knocking him out of the top spot. Larson could only watch as his dream of emulating Busch evaporated.
Despite the setback, Larson returned on Sunday with renewed determination. He navigated through the field with caution and clinched his 30th Cup series win. He was forthright about his feelings after the victory, acknowledging the bitter disappointment of the missed opportunity alongside his pride in the win.
Larson’s triumph in the Cup race was hard-earned. After a lackluster qualifying run, he started deep in the field. He overcame multiple poor restarts and even damages on pit road. After falling outside the top 10 at one point, Larson persevered, gradually working his way up. In the final stage, he overtook Bubba Wallace with 11 laps to go and then his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman. When Bowman faltered with seven laps remaining, Larson seized the chance and raced past him, clinching the win.
This narrative continues to evolve, and more updates will follow as events unfold. Larson’s tale of triumph and heartbreak serves as a testament to the unpredictability and excitement of NASCAR, where dreams are made and shattered, often in the same breath.