Denny Hamlin has currently become the driver to beat in the NASCAR Cup Series, and Kyle Larson knows that. After the race at Pocono, Larson spoke about what went wrong and gave an update about Hendrick Motorsports progress with the car. 

Hamlin won his third consecutive race at the Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono after starting from pole. Larson and Hamlin got into a brief battle for the lead at the beginning of the race, and it was the HMS driver who took the lead for a few laps.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver eventually led 28 laps and won, while Larson led 24 and settled for a fifth-place finish. While talking to FrontStretch post-race, the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports driver opened up about what went wrong for the team. He told Fronststretch:

"We fired off really strong. That first half of that run, my car was doing everything I wanted it to. I think the track had a lot of grip at that point, but yeah, every end of the race track comfortable, but I just felt really tight as the rubber laid down, I think."

The reigning Cup champion also added how once Hamlin got by, he failed to capitalize on the subsequent race restarts and was stuck in a battle with the drivers on the same strategy as him.

Kyle Larson acknowledged that Denny Hamlin and his No. 11 crew are operating on another level, but also shared a positive development at Hendrick Motorsports. 

"The 11’s been dominating now, but I feel like were getting closer," said Larson. "He's (Hamlin) a great driver, and he's on a great team, and his pit crew's doing a phenomenal job, and when you get a flow, things like that, it's really to execute. We've done it in the past.

"Our cars are getting way better this last month, but still have room to improve. I think we're improving on I don't know what it is, but whatever they have found in the last four weeks, I feel like it's the right direction," the two-time Cup champion added.

And the results back this claim. In this race itself, his teammate William Byron finished in third place. As for Larson, in the last three out of the four races, the Hendrick Motorsports driver has finished the races in the top five.

Kyle Larson Experienced a Hiccup Before the Pocono Race

Kyle Larson was hit with a penalty before qualifying even started. The No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports car failed the technical inspection two times.

Due to this, NASCAR stripped Larson’s team of the chance of picking a pit stall of their choice. Along with this, Larson also lost access to some of his experienced pit crew members, like his crew chief Jesse Saunders, who was ejected from the track.

However, this did affect the qualifying as the team managed to pass the inspection on their third attempt.

Despite these minor hiccups from the very beginning of the weekend, the Hendrick Motorsports team managed to have a decent weekend with two cars in the top five. 

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Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yash Kotak