Kyle Larson finally turned around his rough start to the season with a third-place finish, his first top five of the year, in the Gander RV 400 at Dover International Speedway.
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver came into the weekend 21st in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series point standings. His last outing ended in a frightening rollover accident at Talladega Superspeedway.
But things were decidedly better for Larson in Monday’s rain-delayed race as he turned a fast racecar into his best finish of the season.
“It was good to have a clean race,” Larson said. “I don’t think we’ve had a clean weekend all year long, and we’re 11 or 12 weeks into the season. Our pit crew did a good job as well. Nice day.”
Larson stayed near the front of the field most all afternoon and inside the top five in the closing stages. He had to battle his way to the third-place finish fighting off Kevin Harvick and others before the checkered flag finally flew.
“It was solid,” Larson said of his day. “I thought we ran inside the top five all race long. Fought tight early on. Freed it up. That’s where I feel like I was pretty good.
“Had to just make sure I hit the bottom lap after lap to hold Harvick off.”
