Larson Dominates Las Vegas (again)

Photo: Ian Maule/Associated Press

Pennzoil 400:

It should come as no shock by this point, but Kyle Larson dominated the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon. Larson notches his third Cup Series victory at Las Vegas, and first win of the 2024 campaign essentially locking himself in the playoffs, by going back to back at the track and coming three years after his first win at Vegas at first win in the 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports. Vegas becoming Larson's playground certainly makes him a dangerous threat to catapult into the Championship 4 again in 2024 when the series returns to Vegas in the Round of 8 in October.

Sunday was a good ole fashioned butt kicking by Larson and the 5 team. They didn't miss all race long and didn't even seem deterred by early challenges from teammate William Byron, and late stage two and late race charges by Tyler Reddick is his 23XI Toyota. Larson led a race high 181 laps, swept both stages, and had a masterclass defensive final stint to the checkered flag. It was a race that demonstrates his skill, Cliff Daniels exceptional race management, and a rockstar 5 team pit crew. And while the field, as Daniels put it in his post-race presser, is closer together from top to bottom (especially the cars that are routinely in the top 20), having the 5 team this dominant this early could spell disaster for the rest of the field. This is a team that you don't know want to have this type of energy and momentum this early in the year because they have the ability to make it last until the checkered flag falls on the season at Phoenix in November. (See Kyle Larson's 2021 season).

Now, do I think Larson and the 5 team will rip off 10 wins and a championship season again? No. Once Ford an Toyota full grasps their body changes for the 2024 season they will catch up and be far more competitive than we've seen in Chevy's dominance in the first three races this season. Depending on when either or both manufactures catch on, it could be the perfect time to make a run to the title. But, again, Larson and Chevy having this strong presence and momentum right out of the gate will make the 2024 campaign laborious for their competitors.

As for the race individually: it wasn't the hyper-intense barn burner we have had the first two races of the season. However, it was a very good "normal" NASCAR race. That likley sounds weird since Larson did dominate. But looking further back through the field the racing was tight and competitive throughout. I look at this race as a "What If" race. While Larson did dominate the Hendrickcars.com team deserved their win, they had a bit easier path when Reddick is playing catch up from a few bad pit stops and restarts, the 24 car, who I genuinely believed would've been at worst second, derailed by a massive trash bag on the nose stormed back to a top-10, and even a few other folks had their moments to contend. It does bode well for the rest of the season that many teams were competitive throughout and put on an entertaining race for 400-miles. It does suck, though, that the entertainment wasn't for the lead until the final 15-20 laps.

After the checkered flag I know we are going to be in for an amazing season. It could be another dominant, historic year for the 5 team and Kyle Larson, but I feel that we are going to have some amazing story lines throughout the year, plenty of winners, and loads of great competition throughout the field. Onto Phoenix!

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