NASCAR CUP SERIES: FIREKEEPERS CASINO 400

August 22, 2021

Kyle Larson

Frontstretch

An Interview with:

Q. Third for Kyle Larson. It looked like it was going to be so much more. So many moves being made out there. Describe what it was like racing William and everybody else trying to get this win.

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, the restart, worked out a little better than I thought it was going to for me. The 11 tried to stick the 24 three-wide. They got loose. I got to the middle. I think came out third or something there. Was able to get to second.

Just made a couple bad moves, I guess. I think honestly just a little too patient behind the 12. Could have made some later, you know, dives I guess to the inside. Who knows. I need to watch the replay.

Just made a couple wrong moves, allowed William to get by me. Once I was in third, I hoped they would get racing, get side drafted.

I was never close enough to William to help him generate a run on the 12. Ended up third. A good points day. Wish we could have had more, but all in all a good day for the Cincinnati Chevy.

Q. That is a hard decision. You don't want the disaster of getting dumped if the move isn't good?

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, I was probably honestly a little too -- I had points on my mind a little bit too much. I'm looking in my mirror. I seen the 11 is falling back some. I just didn't want to screw it up really.

I felt like I had to weigh the risk versus reward. I could risk going for the win, not having it work out, end up 30 something and lose the point lead going into Daytona or I could be a little bit more cautious, beat Denny by a couple spots, which is what we did.

Q. You have to have those points on your mind next week, too. Got to make your mind hurt.

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, I mean, I'm glad I gained some points on him today. But Daytona is Daytona. I don't typically see the checkered flag I feel like too often there. We'll see.

But glad to go in there with 28 points. If we could get a couple good stages there at Daytona, I would feel much better about it.