Larson wins 3rd straight on somber day for team
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kyle Larson has only heard stories about the late Ricky Hendrick, the son of his team owner who was killed 17 years ago in a plane crash on the way to a NASCAR race.
The anniversary is a difficult day for Rick and Linda Hendrick, neither of whom made the trip Sunday to the playoff race at Kansas Speedway. Rick Hendrick instead texted Larson before the race and told his driver what a win would mean to the Hendrick Motorsports organization.
Larson delivered with his ninth win of the season and most meaningful victory to date in his new job with Hendrick Motorsports.
Larson crossed the finish line and as part of his celebration stood on the window ledge of the No. 5 Chevrolet and pointed to the sky for Ricky Hendrick and the nine others killed in the 2004 crash of a team plane en route to a race in Virginia.
“To lose your child and so many other people that day, I can’t imagine what the feeling may have been for everybody at that time,” Larson said. “So to come here 17 years to the day … it’s just pretty surreal. I’ve heard lots of good stories about Ricky, and I wish I could have met him.”
The victory was Larson’s third consecutive and fourth over the past six playoff races. Larson has won three straight races twice this season and is the first driver to do that since the late Dale Earnhardt in 1987.
Larson beat reigning Cup champion and Hendrick teammate Chase Elliott by 3.619 seconds for the win, but Elliott focused on the importance of the day for the organization over his defeat.
“This is a day that nobody is ever going to forget. Just thinking about Mr. Hendrick and all the families that were affected 17 years ago today,” Elliott said. “Just proud to be a part of their family and hope we can make them proud these next two weeks.”