For a while, it sure looked like a Hendrick Motorsports driver was going to win the Go Bowling at The Glen race in Watkins Glen, N.Y., on Sunday night. And that’s exactly what happened, but not the driver that was expected.
After clinching the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series regular-season championship after the first stage, Chase Elliott was in position to win the race outright. However, Kyle Larson came off a restart with only a few laps left and overtook his teammate, while also holding off A.J. Allmendinger, to pick up the NASCAR Cup Series victory.
Now, it's @KyleLarsonRacin who gets through to the lead!
Less than five to go at @WGI! pic.twitter.com/znvgJA97Aj
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 21, 2022
It was Larson’s second win of the season, having won the Auto Club 400 back in February. It’s also his second consecutive victory on this course, having won last August as well.
Larson also held off Allmendinger at the NASCAR Xfinity Series Race at Watkins Glen International on Saturday, meaning that he swept the weekend in similar fashion.
Allmendinger finished second in the race, followed by, Joey Logano, Elliott, and Daniel Suarez.
"Huge congratulations to Kyle and everybody on the No. 5 team … Seriously, they deserve it."- Chase Elliott pic.twitter.com/e9vPYLF6kP
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) August 21, 2022
Larson moves into second place in the playoff points standings behind Elliott.
Cup driver points: All winners will be in the playoffs. Blaney is +25 on Truex for the final spot. pic.twitter.com/cKUP27TSI2
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 22, 2022
There’s one more race left in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season with the Coke Zero Sugar 400 taking place on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. In the meantime, Larson’s victory garnered some reactions from around the NASCAR world, especially when it came to how things played out between he and teammate Elliott.
https://twitter.com/MonsterMile/status/1561497310848339972
Wannabe Late model driver on Monday. Promoter on Tuesday. Busch And Winston winner on Saturday and Sunday. https://t.co/A5HHLATnXT
— Derek Kessinger (@DSuave_12) August 21, 2022
Both of Kyle Larson's wins this season have come at Chase Elliott's expense. Asked Elliott how he addresses that within the team.
Elliott tersely replied: "Just offer congratulations and get excited for next week."
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) August 21, 2022
Kyle Larson is under no illusions that his move pissed off Chase Elliott and he basically took a win from his teammate. But Larson said he did so knowing he desperately needed playoff points and did what he had to do; he'll deal with being raced hard in return later, he indicated
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) August 22, 2022
— Leonard Motorsports Marketing (@Official_LMM_) August 21, 2022
The Elliott/Logano juxtaposition is entertaining.
That’s racin’ https://t.co/FOu7Hs7Ck2
— Alan Cavanna (@AlanCavanna) August 21, 2022
— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) August 21, 2022
[Fox News]
