In the late laps of last year’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott found themselves jockeying for the lead and potential victory.
It ended with Larson putting Elliott in the wall as the duo ran three-wide with Joey Logano down the frontstretch with 21 laps remaining. Larson darted high, unaware Elliott had a full head of steam heading to the outside lane. Elliott was walled, and his race ruined. Larson went on to win the race.
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The collision triggered a meeting of the minds of all four Hendrick drivers and team owner Rick Hendrick himself.
The Cup Series returns to Fontana, California on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), one year since the incident, which left Elliott stewing in the immediate aftermath. Larson says their relationship is in decent shape these days — despite being frayed again in an August battle at Watkins Glen International.
“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.”
At Watkins Glen, six months after their Fontana kerfuffle, Larson lined up to Elliott’s right on the front row with five laps to go. Heading into the 90-degree, right-hand first turn, Larson ran Elliott wide to escape with the lead and eventual win. Elliott stumbled to fourth at the checkered flag.
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“Fontana was a mistake. Watkins Glen was not a mistake,” Larson said at Daytona. “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.”