Posted on by Brad Norman

It’s been quite a year for Hailie Deegan — and it’s only May.

The 16-year-old kick-started the 2018 season announcing a full-time schedule in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West with powerhouse team Bill McAnally Racing. Just a few months later, Kevin Harvick identified her as one of the sport’s brightest up-and-comers after the two competed against each other at Kern County Raceway in March.

On Tuesday, Deegan was named to the 2018 NASCAR Next class, the second consecutive year she has received the honor. But she isn’t taking a second of the whirlwind adventure for granted, especially since she represents a small minority in the racing community.

WATCH: Deegan, others on growing up racing

“It’s honestly crazy because there’s not many girls out there,” Deegan explained to NASCAR.com. “Let’s face it. There are very, very select ones. Especially ones that can do the off-track work and the on-track. It’s just been a balance between not getting caught up in the media … and focusing on me and my racing. Getting the results. I know everything else will come.”

With the enhanced recognition and attention over the last few months, Deegan has started to embrace her role as a budding star in the sport, who also happens to be a female. It’s an anomaly she takes prides in, but has yet to let define what she wants to be known for among the fans.

Deegan plans on keeping it simple: She wants to be a racer.

MORE: See the other members of 2018 NASCAR Next class

“I am the only girl in the K&N Series,” she said. “There’s the extent where I want to prove to people that I can be just as good as the other guys my age winning. But there’s also the other part, I’m just another racer out here. People don’t even know I’m a girl. My car is white, red and blue. … In the end, the fans see me as another racer until I get out.

“There’s no face that’s there for a girl right now in NASCAR. I think that everyone’s searching for the new face. I think that I’m one of the next coming. … There’s not many. I think it’s really cool being one of the next coming up.”

Having learned how to handle the spotlight from her father, legendary motocross racer Brian Deegan, the California native is taking her career race-by-race. However, she does have a list of goals saved in her phone that she can quickly read over whenever she needs a reminder of what’s on the horizon.

And Deegan hopes she can cross off one specific accomplishment on the list this season.

“… I want to be the first girl to win a K&N race,” she said. “There’s never been a girl in NASCAR history, even in the K&N series, to win a race. I think if I can start from winning a race there then it’ll start rolling the ball to winning races in the next level and the next level.”

MORE: See the new NASCAR Next class in baby photos

Learning from a veteran Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion like Kevin Harvick is one way to help jump-start a career that will give her plenty of opportunities to park in Victory Lane. Deegan spoke with him after he searched out her father’s phone number following the K&N Pro Series West season opener at Kern County Raceway Park in Harvick’s hometown of Bakersfield, California.

“He was like, ‘Hey, I know you guys are leaving right now and I’m trying to leave, but I just wanted to tell you that Hailie is a really good driver,’ ” she said of the conversation with Harvick. “He’s definitely been noticing me more, which does bring all the eyes and attention. But I’m focused on my driving right now. See, that stuff comes just by driving. Just having those moments happen where those drivers do notice just helps that much more.”

Although she finished three spots behind Harvick, who took fourth, the NASCAR Next pilot had him in her rearview mirror for a brief period of time during the event. An experience she can look back on from time-to-time to remind her why all the time, dedication and hard work is worth it.

“It kind of just helped the ball roll,” she said. “It’s just that point of being in the right place at the right time — and I was.”

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

Nine up-and-coming drivers have been named to the 2018 NASCAR Next class. This year’s group includes five new drivers revealed Tuesday, joining four returning members from the previous year.

Since the inaugural class was unveiled in 2011, 38 of the 51 drivers who have participated in the program have gone on to compete at the NASCAR national series level. More than a quarter of the drivers have competed in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, while 13 NASCAR Next alumni have broken into Victory Lane in a NASCAR national series race.

RELATED: Get to know the NASCAR Next class

The following drivers comprise the 2018 NASCAR Next Class:

Anthony Alfredo (@anthonyfalfredo): Fresh off his win in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East at South Boston Speedway on May 12, Alfredo enters NASCAR Next for the first time. The 18-year-old from Ridgefield, Connecticut, nicknamed “Fast Pasta,” also earned a pair of victories driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the JR Motorsports Late Model effort in 2017.

Hailie Deegan (@HailieDeegan): Deegan, 16, is from Temecula, California, and drives for Bill McAnally Racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. Deegan has three top-10 finishes in three starts this year. The daughter of former freestyle motocross rider and Monster Energy athlete Brian Deegan is in her second year with NASCAR Next.

MORE: Deegan lets driving do the talking

Riley Herbst (@rileyherbst): In his second year with the program, the 19-year-old from Las Vegas is running full time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the ARCA Racing Series in 2018. Herbst captured his first ARCA victory at Pocono Raceway in 2017. He also has eight top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 16 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West starts.

Derek Kraus (@derek9kraus): The 16-year-old Stratford, Wisconsin, native is racing in his second full-time season with Bill McAnally Racing, capturing a win at Kern County Speedway by beating Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race.

Chase Purdy (@chasepurdy12): Purdy, 18, returns to NASCAR Next for a second year, driving for MDM Motorsports in a full 2018 ARCA Racing Series season. The Meridian, Mississippi, native earned five top fives, eight top 10s and four poles on his way to placing fourth in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East points standings in 2017.

Will Rodgers (@willrodgers65): The 23-year-old Solvang, California, native has received praise from Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick for his driving ability early on in his career. Rodgers entered two NASCAR K&N Pro Series East events in 2017 — Watkins Glen and New Jersey Motorsports Park — winning on both occasions. His path to NASCAR has drawn comparisons to that of fellow California native and seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson.

Zane Smith (@zanesmith41): Another California kid in this NASCAR Next class, the 18-year-old is also “California cool” — on and off the race track. Returning for a second year in the Next initiative, Smith has earned two victories in the ARCA Racing Series in 2018 — Nashville and Talladega.

Tanner Thorson (@Tanner_Thorson): This 22-year-old will race anything and everything. The Minden, Nevada, native is a former USAC Midget Champion and currently is running various touring series races throughout the year. Thorson also made his maiden NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Dover earlier this year. This dirt-track racing expert bleeds racing because when he’s not competing in a race, he’s driving to one.

Ryan Vargas (@The_Rhino23): Vargas, 17, is a full-time driver for Rev Racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. The La Mirada, California, native has one top-10 finish and ranks fourth in the points standings in 2018.

Each of the nine — whether they’re new or returning class members — share a common goal: Climbing the NASCAR ladder to the national series level. After establishing a solid foundation for the next steps in her NASCAR career in 2017, Deegan says she’s eager to build upon the relationships she developed, while also letting her personality shine.

“Now that I can see a lot of faces in the NASCAR world and meet a lot of new people, it’s helped out with sponsor opportunities and getting noticed,” Deegan told NASCAR.com. “I think I have made a base from last year with sponsor deals and meeting new people, but I think just expanding those relationships and making some new content to show my personality more. I feel like last year was to try to get noticed and get my name around, but now I’m able to show who I am more.”

Rodgers is looking forward to the fruits the program has to offer in order to spring his blossoming racing career to the next level in his first year with NASCAR Next.

“What I hope to gain most is a new presence in the sport,” Rodgers told NASCAR.com. “(Being a part of the program) not only holds clout in itself, but (helps) to hopefully understand the business side of things a little bit better. That will hopefully move my program forward, not only on the race track, but away from the race track. Being part of NASCAR Next will be very influential on what I’m doing on that business side.”

MORE: Young photos of 2018 NASCAR Next class

The newest class kicks off the eighth year for the industry initiative, as NASCAR Next alumni Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Matt DiBenedetto, Chase Elliott, Erik Jones, Kyle Larson, Daniel Suárez and Darrell Wallace Jr. all find themselves competing full time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

The past four Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Sunoco Rookies of the Year are also NASCAR Next alumni — Larson (2014), Brett Moffitt (2015), Elliott (2016) and Jones (2017). Former NASCAR Next drivers Byron and Wallace also are in the hunt for 2018 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in the Monster Energy Series.

The NASCAR Next program was created with the goal of establishing credibility and marketplace awareness, focusing on sculpting potential future stars of the sport. The drivers taking part in the initiative have proven they are capable of success on the race track, and this program gives them the opportunity to stand out among the competition when striving to gain attention of the industry, sponsors, media and fans.

Members will be able to receive invaluable benefits in their association with NASCAR Next, including media training, driver brand development, photo/video/content assets, incorporation into fan-facing events, stakeholder relationships and driver interaction.

The NASCAR Next selection process includes input from industry executives, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Drivers Council and media members. Drivers must be between the ages of 15-25, aspire to compete in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and show potential — on and off the track — to realize that goal.

For more information, visit www.NASCAR.com/next and make sure to follow the drivers on Twitter and on the track. Join the social conversation by using #NASCARNext.

Posted on by Steve Luvender

Last week, NASCAR announced the launch of a youth esports league for iRacing aimed at participants aged 13-16, kicking off next month.

This is a pretty big deal. With real-life stars using iRacing as a springboard for their racing careers, this series could provide a whole new outlet for teens who might not get the opportunity to showcase their racing prowess otherwise.

If you’re a teen, you can get in on the action by visiting NASCAR.com/iRacing.

RELATED: Why join iRacing?

Speaking of the transition from virtual racing to real racing, Xfinity Series driver Spencer Boyd continues to log laps on the sim.

 

NASCAR PEAK ANTIFREEZE iRACING SERIES UPDATE

Fuel mileage — it’s a reality in sim racing, too. The NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series raced last Tuesday night at Kansas Speedway for the sixth race of the 18-race season.

Pole-sitter Logan Clampitt was on the verge of winning his first race of 2018, but came up just short on fuel, running dry within the final 10 laps of the race. Canada’s breakout star Keegan Leahy claimed his second victory of the season after taking advantage of Clampitt’s misfortune.

MORE: Full race recap

Ray Alfalla continues to lead in the championship standings, 22 points ahead of Leahy, and 45 points ahead of Ryan Luza, who missed Tuesday’s race. The series heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for a 300-miler Tuesday, May 22.

iRACING PAINT SCHEMES OF THE WEEK

The race at Darlington, where NASCAR teams race throwback paint scheme, doesn’t take place until September, but that shouldn’t stop you from racing Matt DiBenedetto’s No. 32 Jeff Burton throwback on iRacing, re-created by Justin Bland.

What happens when you mix a retro NASCAR truck and current-day Camping World Truck Series team GMS Racing’s style? Erik Le has the answer with his fictional creation.

 

DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME

In NASCAR, the Big One is a reality at restrictor plate tracks like Talladega and Daytona. The same is true in iRacing (though the damage bill is substantially less expensive).

Watch some pixels get crunched in a Truck Series race at the virtual Talladega:

 

Posted on by Staff Report

The annual NASCAR Next class, which identifies and celebrates some of the top up-and-coming young stars in the sport, will be unveiled today on NASCAR.com as well as NASCAR’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

At 12:30 p.m. ET, we’ll have the 2018 class live in our studios. Come back then, or visit our Facebook or YouTube page at that time.

WATCH: Bookmark live stream

The newest class kicks off the eighth year for the industry initiative. NASCAR Next alums such as Ryan Blaney, Matt DiBenedetto, Chase Elliott, Erik Jones, Kyle Larson, Daniel Suárez and Darrell Wallace Jr. all find themselves competing full time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

The NASCAR Next program was created with the goal of establishing credibility and marketplace awareness, focusing on sculpting potential future stars of the sport. The drivers taking part in the initiative have proven they are capable of success on the race track, and this program gives them the opportunity to stand out among the competition when striving to gain attention of the industry, sponsors, media and fans.

The NASCAR Next selection process includes input from industry executives, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Drivers Council and media members. Drivers must be between the ages of 15-25, aspire to compete in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and show potential – on and off the track – to realize that goal.

Posted on by Holly Cain

Kevin Harvick’s series-best five wins and nine top-five finishes through 12 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races is a career-best season “opening” for the driver of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, ironically best known as the ‘The Closer.’

In true form, Harvick’s closing laps victory at Kansas Speedway on Saturday night gave him back-to-back wins (also including Dover the previous week) and a pair of pole positions in the last three races. He has a series-high five victories on the year.

RELATED: Recap all of Harvick’s wins | Harvick catches Truex late for Kansas win

Harvick’s grand total of 19 wins dating back to his 2014 championship season is the most in the series during that span. It betters Kyle Busch’s 18-win tally in that time, as well as Jimmie Johnson’s 17 wins and Joey Logano’s 16 wins.

And again, we’re only 12 races into the 2018 schedule.

“Now it feels like a game,” Harvick, 42, said smiling in Saturday night’s post-race interview at Kansas.

“It really does, because of the fact that you want to see how many races you can win. You want to see how many laps you can lead. We know that we’re riding a momentum wave that is hard to come by, and you need to capitalize on it as many times as you can because it may never come again. I’ve never had it in my career, and I’ve been doing this for 18 years.”

Harvick has won by dominating a race – like his 201 laps led at Dover. He’s won on team strategy and veteran savvy. He’s won on dramatic passes, such as Saturday night at Kansas. And his 820 laps out front this season are easily the most in the series (Kyle Busch is next with 498).

There is precedent to such an impressive start to the year. And it’s quite a stellar path to be driving down.

RELATED: Drivers to win five races in the season’s first 12 events

Four-time series champion Jeff Gordon also won five of the first 12 races in the 1997 Cup season. In fact he won six of the first 13 races and seven of the first 15 en route to a 10-win championship season.

As Harvick is doing, Gordon reeled off consecutive wins. Twice during that season-opening span of excellence he won back-to-back — the Daytona 500 then at Rockingham and again went back-to-back at Bristol and Martinsville. For Harvick, getting on a “roll” has been a real thing. All his victories this season have come in consecutive stretches. He won three straight – at Atlanta, Las Vegas and Phoenix – and has a two-race streak going now.

“You know, we talked about it this week, it’s something that you may never do again in your career, and while you have fast cars and while you have momentum and while you have a group of guys that gives it everything they have and a driver that gives it everything that he can, like you have to, like you have to just fight every week and give it everything you’ve got,” Harvick’s crew chief Rodney Childers said following Kansas.

“I mean, if it’s eight races you win, if it’s ten races you win, if it’s 12 races you win, the reason that we all are here is because of watching people like Jeff Gordon and Ray Evernham win 12 races a year, and that’s what your goal should be no matter what race team you are. Yeah, you’ve got to keep going.”

There is no statistical reason to believe he’ll slow down any time soon. Even when Harvick hasn’t won, he’s still contended for the win.

Harvick has had success at the next points-paying race, the May 27 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, winning twice (2011 and 2013) and starting from pole position there last year. Since his 2013 win at Charlotte, Harvick has eight top-10 finishes in the last nine races at the track, including three runner-up finishes – twice in the 600-miler (2014 and 2016). He finished runner-up in his very first try at the 600 in 2001.

As for this week’s Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race, Harvick was runner-up in the event in 2014 and 2015.

RELATED: Driver standings | SHR announces Fan Club

It all bodes well for the Stewart-Haas Racing team and Harvick’s success is the cherry on top of a career season for the entire four-car operation. Harvick leads the series in wins but his second-year teammate (at SHR) Clint Bowyer took home a Grandfather Clock trophy for winning at Martinsville this year (his first victory in six years) and is ranked sixth in the standings. Veteran Kurt Busch is ranked fifth and team newcomer Aric Almirola is 11th.

“These moments are not something that happens very often, and now you need to go put every detail into a car like you’re racing for a championship race at Homestead every week because it just has that special feel to it,” Harvick said.

“It’s just a good time to be at SHR. Theyre doing a great job of putting fast race cars on the track, but I think when you look at a night like tonight, it really shows the experience of the team because I feel like this is the kind of cars that we had in 2014 but we had a lot of parts failures. We were all new. We made a lot of mistakes and just didn’t really know how to deal with it like we do now, but yeah, it’s [winning] addicting. Now it’s a game.”

And Harvick is winning.

Posted on by Team Release

Stewart-Haas Racing, the championship-winning NASCAR team co-owned by Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, is bringing back the fan club.

With the digital age creating a brave new world of engagement, old-school interaction has fallen by the wayside. Stewart-Haas Racing aims to reverse this trend by re-establishing the fan club, which was once a hallmark of NASCAR and the personalities involved in America’s most popular form of motorsports.

At no cost, the SHR Fan Club will offer fans numerous chances to win cool gear and, most importantly, access to the inner workings of Stewart-Haas Racing. Meet-and-greets with team personalities at the track and VIP events at its race shop will be available to SHR Fan Club members. To join, simply sign up at www.StewartHaasRacing.com/FanClub.

“Growing up, I can remember drivers having their own fan clubs, and as my career started to take hold, we created the Tony Stewart Fan Club. We’ve all kind of gotten away from that, and now is the time to bring it back,” said Stewart, the three-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion.

“There’s a lot of pride at Stewart-Haas Racing, and that prides comes from this race team being filled with racers. In fact, I’d call us old school, where the attire is more T-shirt and jeans and less suit and tie. And what’s more old school than a fan club? Ours doesn’t cost a thing, and what fans get in return is access. It’s more than a peek behind the curtain. It’s an opportunity to be a part of our race team.”

The first event highlighted on www.StewartHaasRacing.com/FanClub is June 1 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. Following Busch Pole qualifying at the 2.5-mile triangle, every SHR driver will appear at the track’s infield stage for a question-and-answer session with fans, where SHR Fan Club members can enjoy the happenings from a premium seating area at the front of the stage.

More appearances and activities will follow, but the signature event will be a designated SHR Fan Club day at the team’s headquarters in Kannapolis, North Carolina, surrounding the Sept. 28-30 Bank of America 500 race weekend at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. A date, time and other specifics will be announced at a later date.

Posted on by Staff Report

Kyle Larson finished fourth place in an up-and-down night Saturday at Kansas Speedway, but his story from the race may not be quite finished.

FS1 TV cameras appeared to show a dented rear window area on his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet following the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event, something NASCAR officials have penalized this season as a violation of the rule book.

MORE: Contact derails Larson, Blaney late at Kansas

Larson indicated in his post-race interview that he believes the damage was caused following an on-track incident with Ryan Blaney. His No. 42 will undergo further teardown this week at the NASCAR Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina — along with the No. 4 of Kevin Harvick, the No. 78 of Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 21 of Paul Menard.

NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell addressed the topic Monday morning on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

“I think there’s certainly something you can look for,” O’Donnell said on the subject of potential mid-week penalties to the No. 42 team. “ … It’s no different than rear skew in the past where it was an area teams found they could work on — suddenly it’s become the rear window area. We see the claims of damage, but you know, talking to our folks, I’ve never seen damage cause that.

“Certainly we’ll go back like we always do and thoroughly inspect the car, but it’s an area we continue to focus on because the teams know that they’ve found something there. And if we have to react we will, but still looking at it.”

MORE: Recap a wilding Kansas ending in 150 seconds

Multiples teams have been penalized this year for violating Section 20.4.8.1 of the rule book, which deals with rear window support. A brace that supports the rear window must meet specifications for keeping rear window glass rigid in all directions.

Typical ramifications have included a fine, two-race suspension to either the team’s crew chief or car chief and a loss of 20 driver and 20 owner points.

Posted on by Brad Norman

It was an extra special Mother’s Day for Amy Earnhardt as she spent her first one as mom with baby girl Isla Rose, who is nearly two weeks old.

Fans also got a glimpse of the newest Earnhardt baby as Amy posted an adorable photo of the family of three.

MORE: Dale Jr. talks first week of fatherhood | Junior, Amy through the years

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiuyG_CFOtc/

Dale Jr. also tweeted out a sweet message to his wife, as well as to the rest of the moms hoping for a little relaxation on a Sunday.

We wish the happy couple a wonderful day loving on their baby!

Posted on by

Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. has several important women in his life, from his sister Brittany to his longtime girlfriend Amanda Carter.

His mother, Desiree Wallace, is one of those special women.

“(She can) hug you and make you cry if you finish second in the Daytona 500,” Wallace said with a smile during a break at Dover when asked what only his mother can do for him.

WATCH: Bubba Wallace breaks down over journey to Daytona

“My mom’s done so much for me and my sister and my family to get us where we’re at today. She’s the backbone, she’s the support system. We’re very thankful for her and everything she’s done for us.”

Fans saw the raw emotion from the mother-son duo following Wallace’s historic runner-up finish in “The Great American Race.” The pair embraced and cried, as the scene was streamed live during Wallace’s post-race press conference.

“We’ve waited so long, baby. So long,” Desiree said, nestled in the embrace of her tearful son.

The moment was the beginning of one of the most important NASCAR seasons in Wallace’s budding racing career. As the first full-time African American driver in the Monster Energy Series since 1971, the pressure put on his young shoulders was well-recorded through media and his Facebook docu-series “Behind the Wall.”

Off the track, Wallace also touched on his family’s hardships during his touching Daytona press conference.

The support from his mom this year, who has become a more regular presence at the track, has been especially significant, which Wallace reflected on with NASCAR.com in advance of Mother’s Day.

MORE: Happy Mother’s Day! Check out these rockstar NASCAR Moms

“It’s meant a lot,” Wallace said. “She’s come to a lot of races, more so in the last couple years, so it’s good to have her here … She’s starting to figure out how busy this Cup schedule is and how big the scene is. It’s fun to take her through the steps as well.”

But the added track time for Desiree Wallace means also added extra advice, Wallace teased.

“Everybody loves seeing her at the race track; which I don’t know why, she’s just always in my face and trying to tell me how to drive, just like a gnat,” Wallace said jokingly. “Kidding, kidding – it’s good to have her here …”

“She just takes time out of the day to satisfy the needs of her kids … She’s an excellent mom, she always has been. We’ve had our run-ins just like any mother and son have, but at the end of the day, I love my mom to death.”

For Mother’s Day, Wallace hoped to get his mom a trip to Victory Lane in the series’ Saturday night race at Kansas Speedway.

But despite the race’s outcome, he has one important message for her:

“Mom, I love you to death. Thank you for everything you’ve done in my, it will be, 25 years of living. You mean the world to me. For all we’ve been through for the last two or three years, you still get up, put that smile on your face and act like everything’s OK. So, I try to take that after you each and every day when things don’t go right and just know that God has another day for us.

“I love you very much and Happy Mother’s Day.”

 

Posted on by Kathy Sheldon

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kyle Larson’s roiling weekend at Kansas Speedway ended on an upswing despite late contact with Ryan Blaney that cost him a chance at the win in Saturday night’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ KC Masterpiece 400.

“It was definitely our best race of the year (on a 1.5-mile track.) We led a lot of laps and had fun,” Larson said after pushing his damaged No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet to a fourth-place finish. “I felt like myself, the No. 4 (race winner Kevin Harvick) and the No. 12 (Blaney) were pretty equal. It was just whoever got to clean air and got to the top the quickest could kinda maintain the lead.”

RELATED: Blaney dejected post-race

On the opposite end, Blaney’s night ended with a disappointing 37th place and a DNF after leading 54 laps. Blaney was racing Larson hard with 19 laps to go when his No. 12 Team Penske Ford got loose, leading to contact first with Larson and then the outside wall.

“I definitely take the blame on that one,” a dejected Blaney said after taking his car to the garage. “I was just trying to side-draft hard and the car was kind of light down the frontstretch there and it was just hard racing at the end.

“It was definitely my fault just trying too hard. I made contact and it cut my right-front down. I hate I got the 42, but it was just hard racing.”

Larson also took some of the blame for allowing Harvick to pull away, which put him in position to be battling Blaney to that degree.

“Blaney was really good at staying low on exit on the restarts and able to get to people’s insides,” Larson said. “So I was trying to protect low and I didn’t expect the No. 4 to get that big a run up there. I should have stuck up there with him sooner and not given up the lead.”

RELATED: Harvick catches Truex late for Kansas victory

The contact — and an extra pit stop on the ensuing caution period to tighten lug nuts — hampered Larson’s hopes for a win. But he had already overcome starting at the back of the field when the team needed to change tires after the No. 42 spun during qualifying.

He powered back through the field, finishing Stage 1 in fifth and following his favored high line all the way to the front and a Stage 2 win.

“I felt good out there,” Larson said. “I felt like I could move around and run the wall really hard and then when I caught some cars I could move down and go fast, so I was happy about that and happy with the performance of the Chevy. Our car was just good and I could come off the wall and chase the clean race track.”

WATCH: Larson spins out in qualifying at Kansas

From the beginning of the weekend, Larson said he was pleased with his car’s speed – he posted the fastest 10-lap average in the weekend’s sole practice session – and believes his Chevrolet team is finding its groove again. Larson aims to rekindle that groove from last season, which had him atop the drivers’ standings after 11 races in 2017. That stellar start contrasts with this season’s 10th-place ranking and a best showing of second place (at Bristol and Auto Club) heading into next weekend’s Monster Energy All-Star Race then the Coca-Cola 600 on May 27.

“You never know with the All-Star package,” Larson said about revving up for a hot streak at another 1.5-mile track. “But we had a really good car tonight and hopefully can carry some momentum.”