Kyle Larson Oct 23, 2022; Homestead, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) celebrates winning the Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
RacingBy Sean Keeley on

Last week, Kyle Larson was getting shoved around by Bubba Wallace. This week, he shoved himself into victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Larson came away with the victory on Sunday after Martin Truex Jr. spun off his bumper on pit road during the race’s final caution.

Truex was leading the race when, as a means of avoiding Tyler Reddick’s car, Larson unintentionally bumped him. That caused Truex to slow down going into his pit and Larson got back out on the course before him, taking the lead. He would hold into that lead for 22 laps and win the race.

Larson explained what happened afterward.

“I was just going behind him and he had a hard left and was hard on the brakes at the same time and I ran right into the back of him. …If it was my fault, I’m sorry. I don’t think it was,” Larson said.

Truex added that the location of the sun played a role in the incident as well.

“I did see my box late for sure,” Truex said. “So when I slowed before I turned out of the way [Larson] there. So obviously partly on me, I didn’t expect to get turned around. I’m glad nobody got hurt there.”

While Larson was already eliminated from the NASCAR driver playoffs, he still has an opportunity to come out on top in the owners’ points. If Larson wins the winner-take-all championship race at Phoenix in a few weeks, he’ll win the owner’s title for his team, while splitting with the winner of the driver playoffs.

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.

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