Kyle Larson, driver for Hendrick Motorsports, secured his second NASCAR win of the season in Charlotte. The longest race of the NASCAR season happened there on Sunday, the Coca Cola 600, which ranges 600 miles over 400 laps and 4 stages. Kyle dominated the race after winning the pole, and led 327 laps, winning the race and stages 1, 2, and 3. He a lotted 70 points from the race towards his playoff run. He already clinched a playoff spot with his win earlier in the season in Vegas. He’s led over 1,000 laps this season which has been his comeback season. He used to drive for Chip Ganassi Racing in the #42 car, but in April 2020, he blew off during an iRacing match, and Chip Ganassi parted ways with him. Everyone knew he was going to get another chance, and he signed with the championship winning Hendrick Motorsports as Jimmie Johnson had left for Indycar. Kyle instantly shined in his new car, winning in Vegas and Charlotte , and a lotting a ton of points in the process.
Kyle Larson has had an epic year which has been his best since 2017 in which he a lotted 4 wins. Larson has been phenomenal at Sonoma Raceway in his history at the track. He has been a top five starter in every race he has started in Sonoma. He has won the pole every year since 2016 (there was no race in 2020), but has never finished well. He finished 10th in 2019 which was his best finish, and he’s only led 2 laps in 6 races (3 Poles) in Sonoma.
The Toyota Save Mart 350 is, recently, a mainly Toyota dominated race as Toyota has won 5 out of the past 10 races. Martin Truex Jr. has won the past 2 races and has a chance to three-peat this weekend. It is very unlikely that he will though. It is also very unlikely that Kyle Larson will win the pole again. It is going to be very interesting.
Pre-Qualifying Predictions
Pole Winner: William Byron
Race Winner: Denny Hamlin
