Kyle Larson wins Texas NASCAR Xfinity race, filling in for injured Zilisch

Kyle Larson wasn’t even imagined to be racing within the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence this weekend. Nevertheless, when information broke mid-week about Connor Zilisch being sidelined with a decrease again damage (following a wreck at Talladega), Larson was the motive force chosen to fill the vacant JR Motorsports seat.

“Yeah, there was a whole lot of survival all through that race,” mentioned Larson. “Simply dodging some wrecks, and the steadiness — we needed to work on (it) fairly a bit. It was enjoyable. I felt like my automobile — if I may ever get to the lead, I may stretch out. However I simply  could not get by Justin [Allgaier]. He was doing job of simply operating the place I wanted to be. However because of JRM for letting me come run this factor right here in the present day. Clearly, want Connor was within the automobile nevertheless it means rather a lot that they considered me to name up and run this factor.”

Taylor Grey completed second, Riley Herbst third, Austin Hill fourth, and Sam Mayer fifth. Harrison Burton, Jesse Love, Ryan Sieg, Brandon Jones, and Jeb Burton stuffed out the rest of the highest ten. 

The run to the end

The race was slowed by 11 cautions and led to double extra time, however very similar to the Truck race on Friday, the primary a part of Stage 3 was pretty clear. The sector reached green-flag pit stops with Larson going for the undercut on race chief Allgaier. This got here proper after the 2 almost crashed in a sketchy second whereas battling for the lead.

Allgaier stayed out a pair laps longer whereas in heavy site visitors, which was all Larson wanted to have the ability to simply leapfrog into the race lead. Allgaier, who had dominated a lot of the race, wanted a warning. He did get one, nevertheless it was Allgaier himself concerned. Whereas catching a far slower Kris Wright, the 2 vehicles got here collectively and Allgaier crashed into the frontstretch wall, ending his day.

On the following restart, Larson took off along with his closest competitors now out of the race. Nevertheless, very similar to Truck winner Corey Heim, was not allowed to comfortably cruise to victory. 

Driving the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Larson acolyte Corey Day spun, hitting the tire pack on the inside Flip 4. This actually shook issues up as Larson led one group onto pit highway whereas Hill led just a few others who selected to remain out.

It was a frantic restart as Mayer lower a path up the center to take the lead whereas Larson surged ahead, rapidly becoming a member of the battle for the highest spot. Moments later, a crash for Sammy Smith pushed the race into extra time with Larson transferring up from eighth to 3rd already. He climbed as much as second on the subsequent restart simply earlier than Jeremy Clements wrecking, triggering double extra time.

It was now Mayer versus Larson on the entrance row, however there was little the Haas Manufacturing facility driver and defending Texas winner may do towards the 2021 Cup Sequence champion. Larson drove off as Nick Sanchez slammed the wall, spoiling a prime 5 run for himself. Grey made it as much as the runner-up spot after Mayer slid large as nicely, however not like Sanchez, he averted clobbering the wall.