Kyle Larson, the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion, accepted full responsibility for his crash during Sunday’s Autotrader 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which occurred after contact with Shane van Gisbergen. Larson was running third at the close of Stage 2 when the incident unfolded on the final lap of that segment.
As Larson maneuvered to the inside lane moving down the backstretch, he slid beneath van Gisbergen’s No. 97 car coming out of Turn 4. The two drivers made contact exiting the corner, causing Larson’s Chevrolet to spin sideways into the outside wall along the front stretch.
Sequence of the Crash and Impact on Drivers
Van Gisbergen managed to continue the race after receiving repairs, clawing back to finish in sixth place. This marked his best finish on a NASCAR Cup Series oval track, having previously excelled primarily on road courses. Larson’s vehicle, however, suffered substantial damage and was towed to the garage for extensive repairs. Subsequently, Larson dropped beyond the top 30 before crew chief Cliff Daniels instructed the No. 5 team to officially retire the car for the day. Meanwhile, Tyler Reddick claimed victory, marking consecutive wins in the Cup Series.
Larson Reflects on Mistake and Lessons Learned at Drafting Tracks
Larson openly discussed the crash and its cause, stating,
“I just messed up. I knew (Tyler Reddick) was inside of me at one point of the corner, but I got clear of him.”
He added,
“I didn’t quite realize that (Shane van Gisbergen) had gotten inside of him.”
Larson explained that once he was clear, he tried to reduce the distance to the finish line by cutting the corner, underestimating van Gisbergen’s position.
“So once I was clear, I just wanted to cut distance and short-cut my way to the stage finish. (Van Gisbergen) was out of my mirror.”
He took complete responsibility, saying,
“I just hung a quick left and ran right into him. There was nothing anyone else did wrong; it was all on me. I hate it for this No. 5 Chevrolet team.”
Despite the crash, Larson expressed optimism about the team’s progress on drafting circuits, remarking,
“I know we crashed, but I feel like we are still getting better and better when we come to drafting tracks, especially here at Atlanta.”
23XI Racing Celebrates Continued Success with Back-to-Back Victories
The 23XI Racing team secured consecutive victories with Tyler Reddick’s thrilling win, solidifying the team’s competitiveness this season. In contrast, teammate Bubba Wallace faced disappointment once again; he had been in contention for a strong finish in both Daytona the previous week and Atlanta during this race. Following legal settlements with NASCAR last December related to an antitrust lawsuit, 23XI Racing has made a clear statement in the Cup Series.
Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, praised the team’s performance:
“Tyler did an unbelievable job, both teams did an unbelievable job,”
referring to both Reddick and Wallace.
Jordan also expressed sympathy for Wallace’s near misses, saying,
“I wanted one of them to win, I feel bad for Bubba because he had an unbelievable day, but Tyler drove his ass off.”
He added,
“I’m very happy for Tyler and very happy for 23XI. The guys worked hard all summer, and they never gave up. This is the fruit of their labor, and for us to come out and win the first two races says a lot about our team.”
Implications of the Crash and Team Dynamics Moving Forward
Kyle Larson’s crash highlights both the challenges and intensity of NASCAR racing on drafting tracks like Atlanta. While the incident cost Larson valuable track position and points, his willingness to own the mistake points to a learning mindset that may help his performance in future races. Meanwhile, 23XI Racing’s current momentum with back-to-back wins confirms the team’s growing strength in the series, reinforcing Michael Jordan’s commitment to sustained success. As Kyle Larson and his crew regroup, fans and competitors alike will be watching closely to see how he adapts to drafting strategies moving forward.
