During the NASCAR Cup Series playoff event, the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, a significant incident involving former champions Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney unfolded, leading to a tense post-race confrontation. This collision not only impacted the dynamics between the drivers but also cost Ryan Blaney, driving for Team Penske, the opportunity for a stronger points finish, possibly even a victory.
Kyle Larson, piloting the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, acknowledged his error during a press conference following the race. Near the conclusion of stage two, Larson’s car made contact with Blaney’s No. 12 Ford at the left rear after Larson drove too deep into turn three. While Blaney managed to recover without a crash, the incident disrupted his momentum considerably.
Kyle Larson Takes Responsibility for the On-Track Misjudgment
The No. 5 driver openly admitted to Ryan Blaney that the mistake was unintentional and the result of a miscalculation in the heat of racing action. Larson explained that he attempted to replicate a prior move where he successfully positioned himself alongside Blaney, pressing him tightly through turn three. However, this subsequent attempt crossed the bounds of acceptable racing, leading to contact.
“I just told (Blaney) I messed up. I wasn’t meaning obviously to go in there and hit him. The lap before I had got in there and got inside of him, slid up, got to his door, got him tight, got to where I could race him down the frontstretch. I was just trying to do that again.” — Kyle Larson, NBC Sports
Unlike the earlier move where Larson was beside Blaney, this time he was trailing the Ford driver and misjudged the gap needed to slide in safely. Larson assumed full responsibility for the contact, emphasizing that his actions were not deliberate.
“I was a little further back into (Turn 3) than I was the lap before. Just misjudged the point of where I wasn’t going to get next to him and tuck in. I just clipped him. Yeah, all on me. But wasn’t intentional at all. I hope he understands that. Obviously I hurt his day where he could have gained more points.” — Kyle Larson
Bubba Wallace’s Mishap Impacts Larson’s Race Strategy
The race also saw an unexpected twist connected to Ryan Blaney’s close friendship with Bubba Wallace. On a restart following stage three, Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota faltered as it momentarily got stuck in first gear, creating a hazard on the track. Though Larson narrowly avoided the resulting chaos, the incident forced a disruption in strategy that hampered his team’s race plan.
“But yeah, all in all, I mean, outside of that, it was a great race for us. We had a great, great car. Just a restart when the 23 wasn’t able to get going, I think it messed our strategy up and whatnot after that. That was unfortunate.” — Kyle Larson
Larson Reflects on Team Performance and Upcoming Races
Despite the setbacks and the unfortunate clash with Blaney, Larson expressed pride in his team’s effort and the competitiveness of their car, especially at a track where they historically struggled. He appeared optimistic about building on this performance at the upcoming race in New Hampshire, viewing it as a critical step toward securing a spot in the championship finale.
“Yeah, proud of my team. Just a phenomenal race car. A place we struggle at. A style of track we struggle at. Looking forward to going to New Hampshire with this package, trying to build off of it. Just keep trying to do a good job in the playoffs and hopefully get to Phoenix and have a chance to race for a championship.” — Kyle Larson
This outlook reveals Larson’s confidence in Hendrick Motorsports despite challenging results so far in the playoffs. His determination to capitalize on improved performances suggests the rivalry and incidents at Gateway could shape the intensity of the remaining NASCAR postseason battles.
