NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) Rookie of the Year contender Kyle Larson kicked off his weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) with the announcement that he will be racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next season, taking over the No. 42 Target Chevrolet for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. His exciting weekend didn’t end there, as Larson earned a top-five finish in his first NNS race at AMS, having previously raced at the 1.54-mile track just one other time, earning a sixth-place finish in last year’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.
Larson and the No. 32 Cessna Chevrolet did well in the weekend’s first practice session, running the ninth-fastest time in Friday night’s session. Larson went on to record the 19th-quickest time in final practice before qualifying 13th for Saturday night’s Great Clips/Grit Chips 300. After the drop of the green flag, Larson fell back a few positions and radioed crew chief Trent Owens and the Cessna team to report that his No. 32 machine was loose. Despite his report, the young driver continued to run solid lap times and moved back into the 13th position on lap 21. On lap 33, Larson’s car snapped loose on him, but he was able to catch it and continue to maintain his position.
A few laps later, the first caution flag of the race waved and Owens called Larson to pit road for four tires, fuel and track-bar and air-pressure adjustments. After a solid pit stop by the Cessna crew, Larson restarted the race in the 10th position on lap 41. The Elk Grove, Calif. native quickly gained three spots, moving into seventh before the caution flag was displayed again on lap 43. Owens kept Larson on the track under the second caution-flag period, and the rookie restarted in seventh on lap 49.
Larson continued to lay down impressive lap times as he worked his way towards the front, entering the top five for the first time on lap 60. The 21-year-old was quiet on the radio as he continued to gain positions, taking over the third-place position on lap 85. As green-flag pits stops began, Larson remained on the track until he led a lap before coming to pit road for four tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment. After green-flag pit stops cycled through, Larson was running in fifth when the third caution flag waved for debris on lap 104. Larson radioed to say his Cessna Chevy was beginning to be too free again, but Owens kept his driver on the track and Larson restarted in fifth on lap 109.
Larson moved back to the ninth position, radioing on lap 120 that he was “just too loose.” Larson was still running in the ninth position when he came back to pit road for another green-flag pit stop at lap 145. The No. 32 Cessna team changed four tires, added fuel and made adjustments to their car, and when green-flag stops cycled through, Larson was scored in the seventh position after another solid effort by his pit crew. On lap 166, Larson radioed to say that the changes the team made had helped the car, but he could “still stand to be tighter.” Larson held steady, remaining in the eighth position, until the final caution on lap 182. Owens brought the young driver back to pit road for four tires, a can of fuel and their final adjustment of the night. After restarting in eighth on lap 189, Larson took just two laps to rejoin the top five. He maintained his position throughout the race’s final laps before crossing the finish line in fifth, earning his seventh top-five finish and 14th top 10 of the season.
“I’ve got to thank my Turner Scott Motorsports team for all the hard work that they put into this finish,” said Larson. “They definitely improved our car throughout the weekend, and they gave me really great pit stops all night. It’s been a really awesome week for me, with the announcement that I’ll be racing in the Cup Series for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing next season. I’m really glad we were able to cap such an exciting week with a top-five finish at Atlanta.”
The NNS returns to action on Friday night for the Virginia529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway. Television coverage will begin at 7:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. You can also listen to the race live on MRN Radio or SiriusXM Satellite Radio, channel 90.
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