In the last couple of weeks, Kyle Larson has been showing some much-needed results. He finished second in a spirited battle with Matt Kenseth at Dover, then followed it up with an aggressive win in the Sprint Showdown, the last-chance qualifier for the Sprint All-Star event at Charlotte. Then in the All-Star, he fought hard with eventual winner Joey Logano before slapping the wall and finishing off the pace.
Still, he showed he can be aggressive when necessary and is capable of winning races, which is much needed considering the 2014 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year has yet to clinch a Sprint Cup victory. But despite his recent hot streak (if it may be called such), a win in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway may be easier said than done.
That’s not for lack of ability, obviously. Larson is set to become a racing legend. He’s as good of a driver as they come and possesses a ton of talent behind the wheel. But for every good stretch he’s had in the past season, almost immediately he’s met with some misfortune or midpack run. For example, at this time a year ago, Larson followed a 25th-place run at Charlotte with a third-place run at Dover and an eighth-place run at Pocono. Immediately after, he had five straight dismal runs with a best finish of 15, including three-straight finishes below 30th.
This year, meanwhile, prior to his second-place run at Dover he had a stout run of seventh in February’s Daytona 500 and a third-place at Martinsville. Two top-fives and three top-10s in a season that has seen more finishes below 30th than anything. So in regards to the possibility of a win in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, it may be a possibility, but to call it a probability is a stretch in logic.
Not that some of his failures are his fault. He’s been caught up in crashes, he’s had parts fail, and unfortunately, he has Chad Johnston on top of the pit box this year (which counts for some of his poor runs). But if Dover was a sign of things to come, if he wins at Charlotte it will be a victory truly earned. Either way, Larson’s overdue for a win.
