The race at Kansas Speedway was a nail-biter from start to finish. Kyle Larson, in the No. 5 car, put on a show on the final lap, going head-to-head with Chris Buescher. The two were door-to-door, banging and bumping all the way to the checkered flag. Larson's team was on the edge of their seats, but it wasn't until he hit Turn 3 on the cool-down lap that he saw his spotter, Tyler Monn, dancing with joy high above the track.
In a finish so close it needed a black-and-white photo for confirmation, Larson emerged victorious by the slimmest margin in NASCAR history—just a thousandth of a second. It was an adrenaline-pumping moment, reminiscent of the thrilling Kentucky Derby and even more intense than the three-way finish at Atlanta earlier in the season.
Larson, overwhelmed with excitement, admitted he wasn't sure if he had won until he saw the celebration around him. His exhilaration was palpable as he exclaimed, "Man, that was frickin' awesome!" Meanwhile, Buescher's team, initially celebrating what they thought was a win, had to accept the heartbreaking outcome after seeing the photo finish.
The race had its fair share of drama, with a caution for Kyle Busch's spin setting up a green-white-checkered finish. Larson strategically maneuvered behind Buescher on the last lap, then made a daring move around him in the final corner. Even Larson thought Buescher had edged ahead, but the photo finish proved otherwise.
For Larson, the victory was the perfect start to a jam-packed month of May. He's gearing up to tackle the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend, aiming for a historic double. The win was a sweet redemption after narrowly missing out on victories in previous races.
As for Buescher, the near-win was a bitter pill to swallow, especially after overcoming a setback earlier in the race. Despite leading before a pit penalty sent him to the back, Buescher fought his way back into contention, only to fall short in the final moments.
Reflecting on the unforgettable finish, Larson acknowledged that it's a moment he'll cherish forever. Even if the record is broken someday, the thrill of being part of the closest finish in Cup Series history will always stay with him. And as for Buescher, well, maybe he'll consider taking a page out of Lightning McQueen's book for the next photo finish.
Login