“That is a massive, massive moment in this race.”- @KevinHarvick https://t.co/aaerbDWXAX pic.twitter.com/HPJlpvPy1S
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 14, 2024
What a turn of events. During a caution at Lap 115, Kyle Larson experienced what he thought was a flat right rear tire. What ended up happening moments after he keyed up the radio was the right rear tire flew off of his car while he was leading under the caution.
Larson would come back to pit road to get a new right rear tire, and would be assessed a two-lap penalty by NASCAR for the detached wheel. The No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team will also likely see a two-race suspension for their rear tire changer, and jack man, which is customary in these situations.
Despite leading 77 laps, and scoring the Stage 1 win from the pole, Larson now sits trapped two laps down in the 36th position. Complicating matters for Larson is that Christopher Bell sits one lap down in 34th, which means he will need at least one more caution if he wants a chance at the free pass.
The caution that led to this moment was for an incident involving Rookie of the Year contender Carson Hocevar, who went spinning after contact from Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch.
Caution as Carson Hocevar goes around in Texas. #NASCARonFS1 https://t.co/JigoOTfzt4 pic.twitter.com/y3fn17hRPB
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 14, 2024
Here is a video replay from the onboard camera on Busch’s No. 8 machine:
Contact between the Nos. 8 and 77! pic.twitter.com/ewOJ1q6lgE
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 14, 2024
Busch made contact with Hocevar heading into Turn 1, which sent the No. 77 for a ride. Luckily, neither driver collided with the wall.
