NASCAR News: Kyle Larson Defends Himself Over Contentious Move at Miami Homestead

Kyle Larson found himself at the center of controversy following a bold bit of driving during the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. With his eyes set on overtaking lapped-car Austin Dillon in a bid for the lead against Ryan Blaney, Larson’s aggressive attempt resulted in a spin. Despite the less-than-ideal outcome, Larson stood by his decision, reflecting the calculated nature behind his choice.

Reflecting on the incident, Larson told Fox Sports’s Bob Pockrass the following:

“I had a shot to win, so, proud of my effort there. And then yeah, I just bummed that it didn’t work out there in the three. Austin did nothing wrong, he just… I was hoping he’d see me coming and maybe give me the top knowing that I was running there. But he didn’t.

“He kept running his line and there was a little bit of a hole and I thought that might be my opportunity to win.”

In recent years, Larson has established a reputation for his risk-taking style of driving, a characteristic that has sometimes led to mixed results. However, his path to victory often involves seizing opportunities as they arise, which was the case in Miami.

“If I could get clear of Austin and get to the wall…

He continued:

“It just didn’t work out that way.

“(…)You just don’t know if you’re going to have another chance.

“That was as close as I’d gotten to him and felt like I had to make the move because just the way that the air is and the grips out of the tires, you’re just kind of stuck. I don’t think I did anything wrong. You know, there was a gap and I was going to try and take it.”

Meanwhile, the race itself was nothing short of a spectacle, with Tyler Reddick from 23XI Racing taking the win. Reddick’s win was secured with a stunning last-lap pass through Turn 4, overtaking both Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney in quick succession to clinch the Straight Talk Wireless 400. Commenting on his remarkable victory, Reddick said the following, via NASCAR:

“We did what it took to win this race, and we’re fighting for a championship.”

This achievement guaranteed Reddick a much-coveted spot in the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway.

His performance drew high praise from team co-owner and NBA legend Michael Jordan.

“Little kid [Reddick] drove his ass off, and I’m proud of him. We needed it.”

The Homestead-Miami race was a crucial race in the playoff series for several drivers. The concluding laps saw three different leaders. Joey Logano had already secured his place in the Championship 4 in Las Vegas, which left limited opportunities for others. Reddick’s victory, therefore, was a crucial move for his team.