Denny Hamlin offered keen insight following Kyle Larson’s notable NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend, highlighting the challenging circumstances of the win. With Larson securing his second Xfinity Series victory this year in dramatic fashion, Hamlin’s comments on the Actions Detrimental podcast drew attention to the driver’s strategic approach and relentless speed, even when the situation seemed less than ideal. Hamlin emphasized that although Larson’s win wasn’t outright dominating, it showcased a remarkable performance under tough conditions.
“It was a less-than-dominating win by Larson, but he also didn’t have track position,”
Denny Hamlin stated. As he watched the event unfold with about 40 to 50 laps remaining, Hamlin observed,
“I almost tweeted out that with about 40-50 (laps) to go, I was going to say, ‘That guy is trying to do that thing again,’ which is lap the field.”
Hamlin noted Larson’s impressive pace, adding,
“I was watching his times, and he was four-tenths faster than everyone, and it was consistent. The only person he didn’t have that advantage over was Justin Allgaier.”
Kyle Larson’s participation at Texas was prompted by the need to fill in for the injured Connor Zilisch, which added urgency and unpredictability to the race. Despite these circumstances, Larson managed to battle through on-track adversity, including surviving several wrecks and repeatedly adjusting his car’s balance throughout the race. Sharing his thoughts afterward, Larson said,
“It was a lot of survival, I felt like in that race,”
according to NASCAR.com.
“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.”
Larson expressed gratitude to the JR Motorsports team for giving him the opportunity, stating,
“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.”
Demonstrating impressive consistency, Larson has now appeared in three Xfinity Series races this season, claiming the checkered flag in two. The competitive momentum extended into Sunday, when Larson crossed the finish line in fourth place during the Cup Series race—adding to an already accomplished record in both Cup and Xfinity events this year. Larson’s recent success is part of a busy month that includes High Limit Racing events and the ambitious feat of competing in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
Reflecting on the intensity of upcoming scheduling, Larson told Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports,
“Everybody thinks it’s like back-and-forth every day, but it honestly is as easy of a schedule as I get all year because I’m never in a place for six days in a row. So it’s honestly really nice.”
Denny Hamlin’s candid comments not only spotlight the grit and talent required for success in the Xfinity Series, but they also underline how drivers like Larson continue to raise the standard under pressure, preparing fans for what promises to be a compelling race season ahead.
