Larson's Indy Redemption

Brickyard 400:

Kyle Larson took the checkered flag Sunday afternoon for the Brickyard 400 for NASCAR's annual stop, and return to the rightful track configuration, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Larson's victory was his fourth of the 2024 campaign and establishes him back at the top of the Cup Series points standing. Larson also donned the Hendrickcars.com blue and white couple with McLaren papaya colors for his return to Indy after his incomplete attempt at the double earlier this year, and in the jubilation of his victory interview stated he hopes to run it back next year for the double.

Larson's win does not come without some controversary, unfortunately. The race had, as many at Indy do, come down to strategy. And it looked to be Brad Keselowski or Ryan Blaney in the cat bird seat even though Larson had made a mad charge through the field and had been a top-5 car all day. But a late race caution that set up overtime put Keselowski's day at risk due to him being extra low on fuel (although nobody knows how the 6 car had even made it that long). As they were approaching the green flag off of turn 4, Keselowski ducks to pit road. This bumped Larson to row 1 and took away the perceived advantage Ryan Blaney thought he would have if (when) the 6 car sputtered on ran out of gas on the restart. Sadly for Blaney, it happened before the green flag fell. Thus allowing Larson to jump to the front row (per the rule book), nail his restart, and take the lead. Larson held off Blaney on that restart (which was short lived due to a massive pileup in turn 1) and held off Blaney and Reddick the subsequent and final restart of the race to take the win.

The final restart is where my biggest beef with NASCAR and how the race played out lies. Preece got turned coming out of turn as the leaders are about a third of the way down the backstretch, spins out, smacks the wall, hardly moves, and sits there for over half a lap. NASCAR does not throw the caution until Larson takes the white flag. Which was totally bogus. That would have been called a caution at any other point in the race as soon as Preece hits the wall at the latest. Why NASCAR held the yellow is beyond me, and their comments on holding the caution flag are ludicrous. Now, I don't believe it's some Larson "golden boy" or Hendrick favoritism ordeal. I, personally, think they were petrified we would get a repeat of the cluster that was the finish at Nashville. But whatever their rationale was for holding the caution flag it is flawed and ignorant. What we saw out of the Preece incident was a caution by, at the latest, when the cars were coming off of turn 4. Incidents like these are why fans are often frustrated by NASCAR's inconsistent officiating and their lackluster post-race comments that never amount to the possibility of them being wrong.

The rest of the race, prior to the chaotic ending, was shaping up to be an exciting ending. The proceeding laps had been what Indy has been historical. Pretty chill, mostly one lane and little passing, and strategy ridden. As a racing fan, it can be interesting to follow along with the strategies even if the race overall is not a barn burner and uber exciting. Plus, I was thrilled to return to the oval at Indy and be done with the road course. I know IMS president J. Douglas Boles mentioned how they could alternate between the oval and the road course at Indy, and that would be better than sticking with the road course, but if NASCAR continues to run at Indy we need to be on the oval. That is what racing at Indy is all about; that is where the prestige is; and that is brings eyeballs and fans' attention to this race. Let's hope we keep it on the oval in perpetuity. All in all, the race delivered enough for me to say it was a good race. It definitely has folks talking, and it was nice to be back on the oval.

Next up: Richmond Raceway with the Truck Series on Saturday evening August, 10 at 7:30 p.m. on FS1 for the Clean Harbors 250. The Cup Series finishes off the weekend with the Cook Out 400 on the evening of Sunday, August 11 at 6 p.m. on USA. I am extra excited for this race for two reasons: 1) NASCAR and Goodyear's decision to bring and run multiple tire compounds throughout the race, and 2) I will be in attendance with family and friends as we take on the Richmond Raceway to celebrate my upcoming 30th birthday the week following the race!

Richmond Picks:

Cup = Martin Truex Jr

Xfinity = Off

Trucks = Grant Enfinger

Header Photo: Doug McSchooler/Indy Star