Kyle Larson eliminated after engine failure at Hollywood Casino 400
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Sunday started with Kyle Larson one of the favorites to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship. The day ended with Larson’s championship hopes over.
Larson, driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing, started the day third in the standings and 29 points above the cut line to advance to the round of eight in the playoffs, but blew an engine and was forced to the garage after completing just 73 of 267 laps in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.
Larson finished 39th, 127 laps down, and and finished nine points away from advancing, while the top eight moved on to the round of eight opener next Sunday in Martinsville, Va.
“I felt it drop a cylinder or something,” said Larson, a four-time winner in ‘17. “It’s a disappointing way to finish a race and our season (championship chances), but we’ll be all right. We’ve had a good year. It sucks to have an engine failure, but it is what it is.”
Larson said he was still trying to process his feelings after Sunday’s abrupt end.
“It’s sinking in as the second passes by,” Larson said. “Things happen. The 78 (Martin Truex Jr.) had an engine issue last year, the best car all year, and then us this year.”
With several other playoff drivers experiencing problems, from crashes to penalties, Larson actually still had a chance to sneak into the round of eight late in the race, but ended up nine points behind seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson for the final playoff spot.
Johnson started the day eighth in the standings and spun out twice, but was able to persevere for an 11th-place finish, and after the re-figuring of the points for the round of eight (based on playoff points), improved to the fifth seed.
Kyle Busch started the race ninth in points but finished 10th despite problems of his own and moved all the way to the second for the round of eight seeds. Busch won the first stage Sunday.
Matt Kenseth was also trying to race his way into the round of eight after starting the day 10th, but Kenseth was involved in a multi-car crash on lap 199 and then was parked by NASCAR because of a violation in the pits (seven crew members over the wall).
Other playoff drivers who were eliminated from the championship picture were Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Jamie McMurray.
FURNITURE ROW CREW MEMBER PASSES AWAY
James “Jim” Watson, a road-crew fabricator for Furniture Row Racing’s NASCAR Cup Series teams, passed away Saturday night at the age of 55 after suffering a heart attack.
A native of Greenfield, Wis., Watson had been a member of Furniture Row Racing since February. He worked for Roush Fenway Racing from 2006-2015 and spent last season with HScott Motorsports. Watson was a long-time race car driver, competing in dirt late models and in asphalt super late models throughout southeast Wisconsin.
He is survived by his wife, Laurie, and daughter, Brittany.
“On behalf of Furniture Row Racing we extend our deepest sympathies to Jim’s family,” said Joe Garone, president of Furniture Row Racing. “He was an outstanding and talented member of our racing family, whose life was dedicated to racing since his early days as a race-car driver in Wisconsin. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jim’s wife Laurie, daughter Brittany and to his entire family and friends. Our No. 77 (Erik Jones) and 78 teams (Martin Truex Jr.) will be racing with heavy hearts today.”
Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.