Larson calls his win at Kansas ‘crazy’ as he reflects on the 0.001 second margin of victory
Kyle Larson catches up with Jessie Punch and reacts to his Kansas win that is officially the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history.
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00:00Here in Victory Lane at Kansas Speedway with Kyle Larson your winner of the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history Kyle
00:06Have you had a chance to watch the finish yet? Just now for the first time so that was
00:10Closer than I even you know thought I guess obviously I knew you know point zero zero one or whatever it was
00:16It's gonna be close, but like I couldn't tell that I won watching that so just
00:21Crazy can't believe I was able to get side-by-side with him can't believe I didn't you know spin or crash
00:26You know because I was just kind of out of control
00:28It didn't really look like it as much, but I I had my hands full behind the wheels so just um new incredible finish
00:34And whether I won or not I was I was still happy like I didn't know that I won until I got back around to
00:39Turn three and I was I was fine
00:41you know because just being a part of a cool finish like that is is fun and
00:45You know the 17 did a great job all day so to finish second of him
00:49I would have been cool with but to win it it feels better
00:51You didn't even know you won until you were coming around turn three
00:54How did you find out you won take me back to those moments just after the checkered flag?
00:58Yeah, I can't remember. I think maybe I asked if I got him like into turn one
01:02I thought initially I got him and then your cliff
01:05I think you know through timing and scoring he said it looked like the 17 you got us, so I was like okay
01:10You know cool good job today team whatever on the radio
01:12And it was kind of silent for a second and about the time I got turned three
01:15Yeah, my spotter was going crazy. We won. We won. We won. They said we won and so now I'm going crazy
01:22And then you're celebrating and then I see the 17 on the start finish line like oh, man
01:27like I hope I'm not celebrating and they just reverse the call or something, but
01:30Again either way I was I was excited just to you know be close like that
01:35Knowing how this race ended last year you coming in second and getting a little moved out of the way there on that final lap
01:41What is that on your mind at all when you were taking this final lap hoping for that win this year?
01:45No, I mean not really because the circumstances were different, but
01:50So no that wasn't on my mind at all just
01:52You know I have been close to winning a lot of races here, Kansas
01:55And it only won one to to this point, so I guess I would have been just bummed if I didn't you know get it
02:02Done, but at the same point like I think I was running fifth or sixth and the caution came out
02:07I was I was dying my right front tire was shredded, so
02:10And he finished better than sixth or seventh
02:13I was gonna be happy with but to get a win was just a cherry on top
02:16Well now getting this win second of the season what kind of position does that put this team in going into next week at Darlington
02:22Yeah, I mean it helps. You know we've been running really strong all year
02:25we've been you know a top three team from from the get-go and
02:30Just got to keep keep executing good weekends. We've been qualifying well practicing well racing good pit crews been performing at a high level so
02:38You know we have the points lead right now
02:40We've won a lot of stages could have won a couple more today if I just drove a little bit better
02:45And then yeah, so we were good on playoff points this point, but it's still a long time until the playoff starts
02:51So just really got to keep being consistent. You know the 19 Denny. Yeah, they're they're really consistent racecar drivers
02:57So trying to be on their level is very tough, but we've been doing a good job of it so far
03:02Well now it's it's officially May. This is a big month for you
03:05Not only are you racing plenty more NASCAR Cup Series races, but you're also taking on the Indy 500
03:10What confidence boost does that give you now with this win here today? Yeah? I mean, I don't know
03:13I don't I don't really think it gives me much confidence for the Indy car because it's so much different
03:18And and I don't I don't have any confidence in it yet because I don't have any experience in it yet, but
03:23Sure, I mean, I think you know if I was running 25th every cup race and would go into the Indy Indy car
03:30I would just probably not be that you know motivated and excited, but when you're when you're
03:36Performing at a high level in one of the cars. They're gonna be racing on that same day
03:40You know gives you some extra motivation and confidence like you know I got a good shot to win at least one of these things
03:45So yeah, I think I think because of that and how well our cup car is right now
03:50It definitely gives me more motivation, but you know confidence. I don't know
03:55Motivation confidence same thing right Kyle
03:57Congratulations on the win here today, Kansas. Thank you