At last year’s race in Fontana, there was an incident that happened between Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson while jockeying for position last year. Larson put Elliott in the wall as the duo ran three-wide with Joey Logano down the frontstretch with 21 laps remaining.
The incident allowed Larson to go on and win the race, but it surely created tension among the two teammates.
Although the incident occurred over a year ago, the hard feelings between the two drivers have passed, according to Larson.
“I think Fontana was easier to get over for him because it was the first time something happened,” Larson said at Daytona 500 Media Day. “I think Watkins Glen was tougher to get over because it happened a second time. But I think since then — I mean, it took weeks, I would say, to get moved on from it. But I feel like we’re in a good, an OK spot right now.”
“You know, we both did an appearance together, you know, a few weeks ago in California, and we were playing on a golf simulator together. So I feel like like everything’s OK.”
After Fontana, the pair had an incident at Watkins Glen last August, which Larson admitted he did on purpose.
“Fontana was a mistake. Watkins Glen was not a mistake,” Larson said “You know, we were battling for the win. But you don’t want to make those moves, and it was a rough few weeks for me in my seat. So I don’t want to be a part of that ever again. So yeah, I think, I think we’re OK. And our teams continue to work well together, which I think was the most important piece of it.”
We’ll see Sunday if the peace between the two will remain after the race.
