While Daytona presented some solid top 10 rookie performances, Phoenix produced some struggles for our rookie contenders, as well as some got bit by bad luck.
Kyle Larson
Finished: 20th
If you look at the beginning of the weekend, Kyle Larson got off to a strong start and looked destined to have a good weekend after his struggles in Daytona. He was strong in practice, and qualified eighth. However, as saying goes – sometimes one lap doesn’t represent how you’ll perform. Larson would get trapped down a lap early in the race as he struggled with the handling of his No. 42 Clorox Chevrolet, only able to catch the lucky dog late in the race. As a result, he only finished 20th in the race.
“Our Clorox Chevy showed good speed today”, Larson commented. “My guys did a great job on pit road, but we got caught a lap down early in the race on one of the long green flag runs. We battled to get position back on the lead lap, but couldn’t seem to catch the caution when we needed it. Finally, with just a handful of laps to go we got the lucky dog, but just didn’t have enough time to make more of a run to the front. I wish there were more laps left, as we had a really good car.”
Austin Dillon
Finished: 24th
After being really strong at Daytona, Austin Dillon was just average this past weekend as he was mid-pack in practice, qualified 24th and finished 24th. Dillon commented after the race that they got the handling figured out late in the race, but couldn’t gain back the lost ground.
Both Larson and Dillon are learning the hard way that if they’re off early and there’s a long green flag run, they may get put a lap down early and end up having a bad result as a result. The key will be getting the car figured out in practice and making sure that they have the right set-up for hte start of the race.
Cole Whitt
Finished: 27th
After filling the storylines with some drama in Daytona, Cole Whitt had a quiet weekend in Phoenix on his way to finishing 27th. Like his counterparts, he fell down a lap early in the event and couldn’t make it up.
With being in a smaller organization – Swan Racing – and having a rookie teammate, it’ll be tougher for Whitt to get the package right to truly finish inside even just the top 20 then it will be for Larson and Dillon as they bot have experienced teammates to work with.
Justin Allgaier
Finished: 30th
Justin Allgaier was having a solid run at Phoenix – but like Daytona, he found trouble over the course of the event. A wreck with Danica Patrick would cause damage to his car and result in him finishing a couple laps down, while having Patrick furious with him. She confronted him after the race to display her displeasure as well.
The pair have since talked it out and hopefully Allgaier will avoid trouble this weekend in Sin City.
Michael Annett and Ryan Truex
Finished: 34th and 35th
Both Michael Annett and Ryan Truex finished multiple laps down as their struggles were bigger than that of their counterparts. Neither could find the speed or handling to put themselves inside the top 20, falling a lap down early and going even more laps down as the race went on.
Both drivers are with small teams so their goals are set smaller than say Larson and Dillon. Larson and Dillon look for solid days to be top 15s, even top 10s – while Annett and Truex should more so look towards aiming at running from 20th to 25th to start. So far, it’s not working out that well but a rookie season is about growing.
The good thing, here, is that both driver made the race as Truex was disappointed last week in Daytona when he failed to make the race.
Alex Bowman and Parker Kligerman
Finished: 41st and 42nd
Bowman and Kligerman was two of the few drivers to have a DNF at Phoenix as both their motors went bad, shortening their day. Both drivers will be looking to get through the 500 miles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway without any problems.
This Weekend: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Larson and Dillon should both be fast and with an extra day of testing and teammates to lean on, expect them to be top 15 contenders this weekend as they both also have ran well on the mile and a halves in the Nationwide Series.
As for the rest, a top 20 finish would be success for them given the teams that they are with and the current resource situation. However, Las Vegas is known for gamblers hitting the jackpot so perhaps one of them will gamble and find some magic.
