Kyle Larson wrecks while battling for the NASCAR win with Bubba Wallace at Texas Motor Speedway
On Sunday, NASCAR raced at Texas Motor Speedway. The race ended with playoff drama for one the championship favorites.
Watch the Kyle Larson crash video below.
Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace were the class of the field. Both drivers remain in the playoffs and a battle for the championship.
With just 25 laps to go JJ Yeley spun and backed his car into the outside wall. Larson led the field and he faked a turn to the pit lane. Larson, Wallace and others stayed out for a shootout to the finish.
As they went green with 19 to go, Wallace got the initial jump on the restart. Larson was able to pull back even and they ran side by side into turn one.
Wallace was on the outside and he ran Larson tight. For a full lap, they ran side by side for the race win.
As they returned to turn one, Wallace was tight on the door of Larson. And right at the turn into the corner, Larson got loose under Wallace.
Larson went up the banking and backed it hard into the fence. He was able to drive it back to the pit lane but the car was mangled.
Dale Earnhardt Jr comments
“Wallace had to lift quite a bit to not get taken away in that wreck with the No. 5,” Dale Earnhardt Jr stated.
“Bubba really needed to be aggressive there and be right on the door of the No. 5 to have any chance of pulling the pass off. They got into the corner and the backend just comes right around.”
Dale Jr added, “They went into the corner and never got to the bottom of the race track. … He’s already around and trying not to wreck the No. 23.
No contact was made in this incident. However, the two drivers have a history. Last year, NASCAR suspended Bubba Wallace after wrecking Larson and attacking him on the infield of Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Bubba Wallace suspended by NASCAR after wrecking Kyle Larson
Video: Bubba Wallace vs Kyle Larson at Las Vegas (Video)
Bubba Wallace comments after Texas
Bubba Wallace led 111 laps in the race at Texas. However, he came up short of the win.
“The third time I fooled myself, starting on the top,” Wallace told NBC Sports after the race.
“These guys gave me the right information, the No. 14’s tight. He sent it off in there, it wasn’t going to stick but that’s what he’s gotta do. We’re racing for a win,” Wallace added of the final restart with Chase Briscoe.
“I should have just kept my line into turn three and forced William to get tight. But, you’re so vulnerable in these cars,” Wallace said of the race with Byron for the win.
“Just upset myself. Really needed a win there. I don’t know where that puts us and I don’t really care.”
“I know what I did and I choked. You just gotta process things slower. I feel like I’ve made massive improvements in that. But, when it comes down to crunch time, you have to keep it all in check.”
“The best restarter in the game, gives it up on a restart. Funny how that works,” Wallace said of himself.
“Yeah, it was a good battle for sure,” Wallace told Bob Pockrass of the battle with Kyle Larson.
“We were fighting hard for a whole lap. I thought it was going to be like that the whole time. Cause I wasn’t going to lift until he was going to lift.”
“That’s unfortunately what happened. Fortunately, he crashed and ruined his day. But, we’re fighting for a win here in the playoffs and trying to get to the next round.”
Wallace entered the Round of 12 below the cutline. He needs three phanominal races in this round or a race win to advance into the next round of the playoffs. At Texas, he was just short of a win.
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Kyle Larson comments
“He did a good job to stay with me on the restart through 3 & 4 and all that,” Kyle Larson told NBC Sports after the race.
“I tried to open up. I tried to have my shape into [turn] one. With these cars, compared to the old ones, they get sucked around like that.”
“So, I wasn’t really expecting it. Thought that I would be fine.”
“We just went in there side by side and I lost it really quickly and crashed. Pretty bummed.”
“Congrats to my team. We had a fast car today and we’ve had a fast car in every playoff race so far.”
“Go to Talladega and try to have a good day and get some good fortune. And have a good race at The Roval.”
In 17 career starts at Talladega Superspeedway, Larson has collected just three top-10 finishes. His best was a 4th place run in 2022.
Texas Results: September 24, 2023 (NASCAR Cup Series)
NASCAR point standings after Texas Motor Speedway
