Kyle Larson delivered an electrifying performance on Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway, capturing the win in the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 after a tense, double-overtime finish. Filling in for injured driver Connor Zilisch, Larson overcame late-race chaos and a high-stakes pit strategy to take the checkered flag, marking his second win of the Xfinity Series season, his second career victory at Texas, and the 17th in his overall Xfinity campaign.
With crew chief Mardy Lindley radioing in the bold call,
We’ve got to stop to win,
the No. 88 JR Motorsports team made a pivotal late pit stop that changed the race’s outcome. The move put fresh tires on Larson’s car just as the field prepared for the final restarts, setting the stage for a charge from seventh place on a Lap 194 restart against competitors running on older rubber. Navigating through a crowded field and avoiding disaster during two overtime attempts, Larson surged past defending winner Sam Mayer and pulled away, ultimately finishing more than a second ahead of Taylor Gray, who also mounted a late-race push to claim second.
The pivotal moment unfolded on Lap 188, when Corey Day, driving the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet—a car Larson had won in at Bristol just weeks before—struck the inside tire barrier in Turn 3. The crash triggered the ninth of eleven caution flags and erased a dominant six-second lead that Larson had built. The resulting pit strategy, guided by Lindley’s confidence, proved decisive as Larson rejoined the track with superior grip, overtaking rivals in the tense closing laps.
After the victory, an elated but exhausted Kyle Larson reflected on the rollercoaster race, acknowledging the adversity his team faced.
It was a lot of survival, I felt like in that race,
Larson said.
I got in some wrecks, the balance we had to work on quite a bit. So, it was fun. I felt like if I could ever get the lead, I could stretch it out, but I couldn’t get by Justin (Allgaier). He was running where I needed to be. Thanks to JRM for letting me come run this thing here today. Obviously, I wish Connor was in the car, but it means a lot that they thought of me to call up to run this thing.
Larson’s journey through the field was marked by resilience and strategy. Starting 20th, the substitute driver clawed his way into contention before suffering a setback from an uncontrolled tire penalty after the first stage break, which relegated him to the rear once again. Undeterred, Larson pressed forward, while Justin Allgaier set the pace out front, leading 99 laps and holding off Larson until a green-flag pit cycle in the final stage shuffled the field. Allgaier, after losing ground to Larson, soon faced disaster following a close encounter with Kris Wright exiting Turn 4. Wright, unable to control his No. 5 Chevrolet, drifted into Allgaier’s lane. With little room to maneuver, Allgaier clipped Wright, slammed the outside wall, and ended his race on the back of a wrecker.
Allgaier remained gracious as he addressed the incident that derailed his promising evening.
The hard part is, ultimately it falls on my shoulders,
he admitted.
We’d about gotten crashed a couple laps before the green-flag stop there, and I think they had some damage and he (Wright) was having a bit of a tough time with his race car, and I’m trying to catch back to the 88 and trying to push and ultimately put myself in a bad position… Kyle and I had a great battle, and I was having a lot of fun with it. Obviously, the guy’s ultra-fast in anything that he drives. … I think probably the most disappointing part about today is that it’s my mom’s birthday. I would love to get a trophy and celebrate her birthday with that, but instead I’m standing here talking to you guys.
With Allgaier out, the door was open for a late shakeup among the front runners. Nick Sanchez, driving the No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet, was a consistent threat among the top five until the pressure mounted in the second overtime. As the race intensified, Sanchez hit the wall, ultimately finishing a disappointing 20th. Riley Herbst capitalized on the chaos, climbing from sixth to third in the final moments, while Austin Hill secured fourth, Sam Mayer slipped to fifth, and Harrison Burton rounded out the top six. The rest of the top ten featured Jesse Love, Ryan Sieg, Brandon Jones, and Jeb Burton, all managing to hold on in a field upended by cautions and contact.
The high-drama conclusion at Texas highlighted both the unpredictability and intensity of the Xfinity Series. Kyle Larson’s victory, achieved through daring strategy and relentless driving, underscored the importance of adaptability and teamwork, especially when filling in as a substitute. The win not only adds to Larson’s impressive racing resume but also puts a spotlight on the support and trust of the JR Motorsports organization, as well as the ever-evolving competition in the series.
For Larson, the outcome could influence his continued involvement with the Xfinity Series and serve as a momentum boost for his ongoing schedule. For regulars like Allgaier, Mayer, and the rest of the field, the Texas race offered both brutal lessons and signs of their resilience, as the championship battle tightens heading into the heart of the season.
The Xfinity Series quickly turns its attention to the BetMGM 300, scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where the drama and intensity on display at Texas will undoubtedly fuel drivers as they pursue victory and championship points in one of NASCAR’s most competitive environments.
