During the Dixie Vodka 400, Kyle Larson spun out Martin Truex Jr., the race leader at the time, as the field came onto pit road for pit stops in the final stage of the race.
Martin Truex Jr. via NASCAR YouTube
As you can see below, Larson bumps into Truex Jr. and he spins into his pit stall backwards. Truex’s pit crew were alert and were able to avoid the oncoming car. A number of them leaped back behind the pit wall.
They did perform the pit stop and sent Truex on his way, but he would never recover from the spin.
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Larson, whose car was dominant the entire day, went on to win the race. After winning the race he was asked about the contact with Truex and told NBC Sports analyst Marty Snider, “I was just going behind him and he hung a hard left and was hard on the brakes at the same time. And I ran right into the back of him.”
He continued, “I don’t know if — my team said he was late turning into his stall, but I don’t know if it was my fault I’m sorry, but I don’t think it was. But it’s hard to see down this pit road . I don’t know if fans and people realize when you got debris all over your windshield, the sun’s shining straight in your face, it’s hard to see your stall.”
“Hate that happened. He was definitely the one that I was gonna have to beat. He was really good that last long run too,” Larson said.
Truex Jr. also addressed getting spun when NBC Sports’ Kim Coon noted that he seemed he was a little far down the pit road to commit to his pit stall and he was spun by Larson.
Truex replied, “Yea, it was definitely a little bit of both of that. It’s really hard to see through these windshields right now with the sun like that and all the stuff covering it. I did see my box late for sure and so I slowed down before I turned out of the way the five there.”
“So obviously partly on me. I didn’t expect to get turned around. I’m glad nobody got hurt there,” he continued. “But overall it’s just disappointing and to have a good day going like that and have a shot at winning and couldn’t close the deal. I hate it for my team. It’s just been one of those years.”
Larson further addressed the contact during the post-race press conference saying, “From my perspective I’m just running my pit road speed. I’m running my lights, I’m trying to stay on those as consistent as I can. I think I had a few feet from my front bumper to his rear bumper.
“Usually you peel off and you’re still in the gas until the guy’s got a lane to go by,” he explained. “And he started to peel off and then all of a sudden he’d slam on the brakes and I hit him. I didn’t really have any time to react. I was so close to him.”
I” didn’t know at the time if he was trying to get me to check up and play games or anything, but it sounded like he just misjudged where his pit stall was,” Larson said.
He then stated, “This is the hardest pit road to find your pit stall when it gets to that time of day. The sun is about straight in your eyes. You’ve got debris all over your windshield. I’ve missed my pit stall here before because of that.”
“I assume that’s probably what happened. I haven’t heard his comments or anything, but I hope that’s what happened,” he noted.
Larson then reiterated, “I’m just running my pit road lights. They’re not counting me into his pit stall so I’m just trying to maintain what I’m doing and he got to the brakes really hard and hate that I spun him because he had a great day going and a great car. Just unfortunate.”
Cliff Daniels and Kyle Larson via NASCAR YouTube
Larson’s win locked Hendrick Motorsports and the No. 5 car into the final round of the Owner’s Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 6th.
He and Hendrick Motorsports join Team Penske and the No. 22 car driven by Joey Logano, who won the week prior at Las Vegas Speedway.
Kyle Larson via NASCAR YouTube
What do you make of Truex Jr.’s comments regarding Larson spinning him out? What about Larson’s explanation for what happened?