Kansas Turning Point: What can’t Kyle Larson do, and another wild round on tap

This past Saturday night under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway, we witnessed perhaps the biggest butt-whoopin' yet to be laid down this decade. And as the series shifts to the Round of 12 this weekend with a return to Kansas Speedway, we’re reminded of what happened there during the spring visit, a little thing you might’ve heard about -- the literal closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history. Naturally, it was the same driver, Kyle Larson, emerging victoriously in each. What can't this guy do? Dominance can be a rare and fleeting thing in this sport, with several drivers flirting with it over the past couple of decades -- names like Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr. -- but none quite knocking on the door of the Jimmie Johnson echelon, effortlessly established by the laid-back Californian during an unprecedented run of five straight titles from 2006-10. Must be a California thing because no driver has felt as close to joining “Seven-Time” among NASCAR’s all-time greats the way the 32-year-old Elk Grove native currently does, and we’re likely still looking at a decade-plus of Larson racing at the sport’s highest level. But it’s also possible that he, himself, has not reached his highest level yet, which is about as disheartening for his competitors as the fact that he spotted the field an entire race and still only lost this year’s Regular Season Championship by a single point. MORE: Despite dominant Bristol win, Kyle Larson isn’t home-free | Larson's career Cup wins No. 5’s Bristol drubbing immediately brought to mind Truex’s dominant 2016 Coca-Cola 600 when he led 392 of 400 laps in NASCAR’s longest race. It’s possible Larson’s performance -- particularly given the unknowns of the tire going into the race and the expected unpredictability, which he obliterated almost immediately -- was even more impressive. Larson's 1.108 average running position at Bristol is the best in any race by any driver since October 2019, with his worst position under green being third place. After an uneven first two races to start the round, elimination was on the table for Larson at Bristol -- that seems laughable to think about now, as it now seems a foregone conclusion he’ll ride this momentum all the way to Phoenix. The 2021 champ’s Bristol beatdown is a continuation of a career defined by versatility, skill and pushing his machine to its limit -- and beyond -- while still keeping it (mostly) under control better than anybody else. From dirt tracks to speedways, short tracks to road courses, Larson has proven time and again that he can win anywhere, in any conditions. With his Bristol win, Larson is now tied for the sixth-most playoff wins of all time, which is notable because the man he tied -- MTJ -- got nearly a decade-long head start on No. 5, making his first playoff appearance in 2007 to Larson’s postseason debut in 2016. As we look ahead to the rest of the 2024 season, there just isn’t a case -- at the moment, at least -- for any driver other than Larson as the favorite for the championship. History is on his side, too. Only once has a driver seeded in the top three entering the Round of 12 failed to advance to the Round of 8 (though, it’s worth noting -- it was him). Assuming he scoots through to that round, it shapes up as his best in the playoffs with wins at every track and those particular venues falling right into his general wheelhouse. RELATED: Katelyn Larson joins NASCAR Daily So, what can't Kyle Larson do? At this point, it's hard to say. He's proven himself on every type of track, in multiple racing disciplines and against the best competition in the world. He's broken records and won a championship. He isn't just winning races; he's redefining what's possible in a race car. Whether he’ll admit it, his Bristol performance wasn't just a victory; it was a statement. It was Larson at his best, doing what he does better than anyone else -- putting on a show and making it look easy. Just like Johnson. After Bristol, he’s left us all wondering absolutely nothing about his talent except just how high his ceiling might be. And if there even is one.

[caption id="attachment_446540" align="aligncenter" width="1300"]Sean Gardner | Getty Images[/caption]