Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson didn’t hold back his frustration after a flat tire ruined his race at Homestead Miami, forcing him to settle for a disappointing 13th-place finish. The 2021 NASCAR Cup champion had been running strong in P2, aiming to maximize his playoff points, but a flat tire at the end of Stage 1 sent his car into the wall, damaging the No. 5 Chevy and setting back his championship hopes.
In a heated team radio exchange, Larson fumed about the incident and the limitations of the Next-Gen car, venting, “These f***ing cars are stupid. How can you get a flat tire and be done… or you get a flat tire and wear out a little bit of your diffuser and your race is killed. Stupid.”
Larson’s day went from hopeful to frustratingly difficult as he struggled in the midfield after the incident, leading only one lap before finishing the day with just 24 points. He now finds himself in a precarious position, seven points off the cutoff for the Championship 4. Larson acknowledged the impressive work of his team in repairing the damage, saying, “The No. 5 Chevy team did a great job rebounding after the flat tire.”
With Martinsville next on the schedule, Larson remains optimistic, though he’s fully aware of the high stakes. “We’ve been strong at Martinsville at times,” he shared. “It’s not my best track, but I’ve been a lot better there since I joined Hendrick Motorsports. We just need to qualify well and give it our best shot.”
While Larson’s path to the Championship 4 is now uncertain, the No. 5 team is focused on going all out in Martinsville, knowing that a win could secure their spot in the finale. The coming race will be pivotal, with Larson hoping to redeem himself and keep his title hopes alive.
