Larson’s error helps Johnson win
BRISTOL , TENN. Kyle Larson saw the second red light flash on his dashboard, an indication that a pit lane speeding penalty was moments away late in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Monday.
“I knew I gave the race away there,” the 24-year-old Chip Ganassi Racing driver said.
The penalty on lap 423 of the 500-lap race dropped Larson from second to 20th as the final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series entry on the lead lap of the rain-postponed race.
Larson rallied all the way back to second place over the closing laps before he had to settle for a sixth-place finish as defending series champion Jimmie Johnson won his second consecutive race.
“It was a lot of fun,” Larson told USA TODAY Sports. “We gained most of our spots by taking two tires on the last stop. Jimmie was really good around the bottom (of the track). I wish I wouldn’t have got caught on pit road.”
Johnson led the final 21 laps as he held off Clint Bowyer to win by 1.199 seconds. It was the seven-time Cup champ’s 82nd victory, which puts Johnson a victory away from tying Cale Yarborough for sixth on the all-time wins list.
As proof winning doesn’t get old, Johnson dropped some emphatic — and profane — words over his radio moments after he crossed the finish line.
“To win here and to run that competitive all day means a lot to me,” Johnson said. “I’ve loved this racetrack from afar (and) made my first laps here in 2000 in a Busch (Series) car. I was like, ‘Where am I? What’s going on? How do I get around this racetrack?’ It’s been a journey since 2000 until now.”
It was Larson’s seventh career Cup start here and, despite the speeding penalty, he still came away with his best career finish and added 10 points to his lead in the points standings. He enters Sunday’s race at Richmond International Raceway with a 27-point advantage over Chase Elliott.
The Fox broadcast of the race focused on Larson’s pit exit as the speeding issue, quite a feat, considering he had the last pit stall on that side of the track. But NASCAR later said Larson’s infraction occurred as he entered pit lane at more than 35 mph, the speed limit here.
Larson took two tires as the leaders took four on the last pit stop, a move that traded track position for grip.
“I’m a little disappointed, but not bad,” Larson said. “I’m more disappointed in myself from getting that speeding penalty. I was just pushing it down pit road and pushed it a little too far. I had a shot there still at the end.”
Because qualifying was rained out, Larson, as points leader, started from the pole. He led a race-high 202 laps and seized the first stage of the race, the second stage victory for Larson this season.
“I don’t know what more you could ask out of this place,” Larson said. “This is the best track we go to, most exciting place, and I love coming here.”