After finishing runner-up in the race’s first stage, Kyle Larson’s evening at Atlanta Motor Speedway has effectively come to an end, at least when it comes to scoring the victory in the Quaker State 400.
Larson, driving the No. 5 for Hendrick Motorsports, was running outside the top-10 when contact from Erik Jones send the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro spinning in turn four, Luckily, nobody made contact with the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion.
LARSON GOES AROUND!
The No. 5 looks to have gotten loose with @Erik_Jones right on his bumper in Turn 4 with most of the field getting by unscathed.#NASCAR #QuakerState400 pic.twitter.com/Ka61Foa7Et
— NASCAR on TSN (@NASCARonTSN) July 10, 2023
However, in the aftermath of the incident, Chase Briscoe and Austin Hill made some slight contact, doing a half-spin at the entrance to the pit road. That damage, coupled with some other issues, took Hill and Beard Motorsports out of the event.
Things looked to be alright for Larson, to the point where he’d be able to change tires and continue on in a semi-competitive manner, until a right-front tire exploded on the No. 5 while leaving pit road, destroying the right-front fender.
Whoa.
Kyle Larson with damage after this explosion. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/6fAFwZ4cJJ
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 10, 2023
Larson was able to return to the track for some green-flag running, but just a couple of laps later, the Elk Grove, California native had further problems, hitting the wall and retiring from the event.
