Kyle Larson wins at Watkins Glen at teammate Chase Elliott’s expense

By Bob Pockrass
FOX Sports activities NASCAR Author 

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson are Hendrick Motorsports teammates, however when racing for the win, it’s tough to behave like teammates.

And so they most likely don’t really feel like teammates following their tangle Sunday at Watkins Glen Worldwide.

Larson muscled his well beyond Elliott by washing into him and forcing him to overlook the nook on a restart with 5 laps remaining, then held off AJ Allmendinger for the victory. The win was Larson’s first since late February, when he additionally tangled along with his teammate.

“I’m not pleased with it,” Larson stated of the transfer. “I don’t like to try this. However in that second, that was my solely shot to win. I haven’t received so much this yr. … I felt like I did what I needed to do to learn our playoffs.”

Larson holds off Allmendinger to win at Watkins Glen

Kyle Larson holds off AJ Allmendinger after tangling with Chase Elliott within the closing laps to win at Watkins Glen and earn his second victory of the season.

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Listed below are three takeaways from Watkins Glen heading into the ultimate race of the common season subsequent week at Daytona.

Elliott pissed off

Elliott saved his feedback respectful towards his teammate following the race, however his frustration was evident. He talked to staff proprietor Rick Hendrick after the race, which might have been his fifth win of the season. 

It was a battle of champions: Elliott received the 2020 Cup title, and Larson received it final yr.

“I simply obtained beat,” Elliott stated. “Congrats to Kyle. … I attempted. It doesn’t matter. I failed and misplaced the occasion.” 

Elliott did clinch the regular-season championship, which is value 15 playoff factors — or the equal of three wins. Second place within the standings is value 10 playoff factors.

In two weeks, Elliott will enter the playoffs atop the standings, seemingly with an fringe of 10-to-20 factors on the competitors.

“Fifteen factors,” Elliott stated when requested what it meant. “It will get us to 40 [on the year]. In order that’s good.”

Crew President Jeff Andrews stated he had no points with Elliott’s response.

“I’ve no difficulty in any respect that Chase is upset proper now,” Andrews stated. “I believe that is completely regular on this state of affairs. We’ll speak about it this week. We’ll speak about it the week after.”

“It may be motivation for him.”

Larson understanding

Larson stated he would count on Elliott to be sad but in addition stated Elliott set himself as much as be a sufferer of such a transfer by lining up on the skin.

“I might understandably be upset in his place as properly,” Larson stated. “However I might additionally perceive the danger that I soak up selecting the left lane.

“Despite the fact that that it’s most popular, there’s a danger of that man on the proper aspect, if he will get an excellent launch, he’s going to make use of you up on the exit in Flip 1.” 

The 2 drivers seemingly will discover themselves in an identical state of affairs once more.

“We’re going to be round one another so much, whether or not or not it’s on the store or the observe or on the racetrack, so it will likely be simply one other factor we’ve got to work by way of,” Larson stated.

Kurt Busch nonetheless out however in playoffs

With 15 winners and one race left within the common season, all drivers who’ve received this yr have clinched a spot within the playoffs. Solely a type of hadn’t clinched earlier than Sunday, and that was Busch, who missed his fifth consecutive race following a mind harm suffered in a crash at Pocono. 

Busch may even miss Daytona however is locked in as a result of he received a race and can end within the high 30 in factors.

Ryan Blaney at the moment holds a 25-point edge on Martin Truex Jr. for the ultimate playoff spot. Certainly one of them will make the postseason if there is not a brand new winner at Daytona.

These drivers would clinch a playoff spot with a win at Daytona: Blaney, Truex, Erik Jones, Aric Almirola, Austin Dillon, Bubba Wallace, Chris Buescher, Justin Haley, Michael McDowell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Cole Custer, Brad Keselowski, Harrison Burton, Ty Dillon and Todd Gilliland.

Kimi Raikkonen on his NASCAR Cup debut

Former System 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen discusses what occurred in his accident at Watkins Glen and what he loved about his first NASCAR Cup Collection weekend.

Whereas the main focus of the Glen was on the playoffs, it additionally marked the Cup debut of former System 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen.

Raikkonen exited after a crash on Lap 45 and completed thirty seventh after a robust run.

“We had some good laps,” stated Raikkonen, who drove for Trackhouse Racing. “It’s a disgrace. The automotive felt prefer it had a whole lot of pace, however that’s the way it goes generally.”

Bob Pockrass has spent many years masking motorsports, together with the previous 30 Daytona 500s. He joined FOX Sports activities in 2019 following stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Comply with him on Twitter and Instagram @bobpockrass. Searching for extra NASCAR content material? Join the FOX Sports activities NASCAR E-newsletter with Bob Pockrass!

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