Kyle Larson Sweeps the Weekend at Watkins Glen

After winning the Xfinity race the day before, Kyle Larson went on a tear and edged out teammate Chase Elliott on the final restart to win at Watkins Glen for the second year in a row. Larson held off AJ Allmendinger in the final five laps to earn his second win in the 2022 season, his first since winning at California back in February.

On the final restart, Larson and Elliott restarted on the front row with Elliott taking the outside lane and Larson on the inside. As they went into turn one, Larson’s right front wheel locked up trying to brake into the turn, pushing Chase Elliott up the track, giving Larson the lead. AJ Allmendinger and Joey Logano were able to get around Elliott as well during that moment, leading Elliott to finish fourth in the Go Bowling at the Glen.

Larson immediately talked about what happened on the final restart, following his celebration.

“That was really my only opportunity, I’m not proud of it,’’  Larson said after the race, “But being in the inside lane, the right lane, being the leader, choosing the left lane, it definitely wins out. But when it gets late in the race, it’s definitely risky.”

“I knew that was my only opportunity to get by him. I feel like our cars were pretty equal today. Had a lot of fun after the green-flag cycle trying to chase him down. Kind of burned my stuff up a little bit. But the restarts kept me in it and kept our team in it. I’m proud of my guys. Good to get another win here at Watkins Glen and get some more bonus points going into the Playoffs, we haven’t had a lot here this year.’’

Larson also expects a conversation with Chase Elliott, citing the team has a competition meeting on Monday. Larson reiterated that he was only making a move and felt like it was necessary when going for the win. He believes Elliott would’ve done the same.

Chase Elliott led 29 of the 90 laps, the most led out of anyone in the race, and kept it simple in his post-race interview.

“Congratulations to Kyle and everybody on the 5 team and at Hendrick Motorsports for getting the win.’’

Despite that, Elliott did clinch the regular-season championship during the race that will reward him 15 bonus points heading into the playoffs that start in two weeks at Darlington Raceway.

Daniel Suarez finished fifth, who got his first career win earlier this season at a road course, Sonoma, and Michael McDowell finished sixth, who led 14 laps. Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, Chris Buescher, and Erik Jones rounded out the top ten.

Formula One world champion Kimi Räikkönen had a solid run in his NASCAR Cup Series debut, as he was running as high as eighth place in Stage 2 before pitting. Driving the No. 91 Project 91 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing, his day came to an early end when he was pushed off track during a restart into a tire barrier.

“It was good fun, you know, and I felt more confident all the time and had some good battles and the car felt like it had a lot of speed in there, but that’s how it goes sometimes,” Räikkönen said after checking out of the infield care center.

This race also marked drivers from seven different countries making a start in the race, the most ever in a modern-era NASCAR race.

One race remains in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season, despite Elliott clinching the regular season title, one spot still remains open. Ryan Blaney, who won the regular season finale at Daytona last season, currently holds that last spot over Martin Truex Jr by 25 points. That is if there is no new winner next week. Both drivers are still hunting their first wins of the season.

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero 400 on Saturday, August 27th at 7:00 PM EST on NBC. After Daytona, the 16-driver playoff field will be set, in which the playoffs will begin on Sept. 4th at Darlington Raceway.