Kyle Larson
No. 42 Cartwheel Chevrolet
Auto Club Speedway
TreatMyClot.com 300
March 23, 2014
Kyle Larson Captures First Nationwide Series Victory in his Home State
Race Recap – Making his second-career start at Auto Club Speedway, Kyle Larson didn’t back down until the checkered flag waved during Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Although he and his Turner Scott Motorsports (TSM) team struggled to find speed during the weekend’s two practice sessions, Larson managed to qualify the No. 42 Cartwheel by Target Chevrolet in the eighth position for the start of the TreatMyClot.com 300. Shortly after the start of the 150-lap race, Larson reported a loose race car and when green flag pit stops began to cycle, the No. 42 car made its way down pit road for a round of adjustments. It was the second caution, however, that allowed the TSM team to remove debris from Larson’s grill and get the Cartwheel Chevy in perfect race condition to contend for the win. Working his way through tight traffic, the 21-year-old found himself battling seasoned NASCAR veterans for the lead in what was some of the most exciting final laps of the NNS season thus far. With speed, determination and a great team on his side, Larson claimed victory in the No. 42 Cartwheel Chevrolet in his home state of California.
Highlights – This win marks Kyle Larson’s first NASCAR Nationwide Series win in 38 starts, along with the first win of the 2014 season for Turner Scott Motorsports.
Kyle Larson on his Victory at Auto Club Speedway
“Man, this feels awesome to get my first Nationwide win. I can’t thank my Turner Scott Motorsports team enough for making those changes that got me to having one of the fastest cars on the track by mid-race.
Having Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick right on our bumper those last 11 or so laps was intense and I really didn’t think I could hold them off, but I’m proud of myself for staying calm and not getting into the wall. A lot of things make this win special for me: It’s California, it’s my first win, and the competition was tough. I gained a lot of experience in the first five races with this team and hopefully we’ll be celebrating again before you know it. This was a lot of fun and I hope the fans enjoyed the show today.”
First Practice
Position: 12
Fastest Lap: 41.881 sec.
Laps: 14
Final Practice
Position: 14
Fastest Lap: 42.030 sec.
Laps: 43
Qualifying
Position: 8
Fastest Lap: 40.851 sec.
Race
Position: 1
Completed/Total: 150/150
Led: 17
What’s Next -The NNS will have the weekend off before heading to the Lonestar State for a night of racing at Texas Motor Speedway. The O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 can be seen live on Friday, April 4 at 8:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN2.
About Turner Scott Motorsports: Turner Scott Motorsports was established in 1999 and has become one of the most successful organizations in NASCAR by combining the business acumen and shared passion for racing of co-owners Steve Turner and Harry Scott Jr. This season will mark the fourth season of full-time NASCAR competition for the organization, which expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series. The team earned its first championship when James Buescher captured the NCWTS title in 2012. Turner Scott Motorsports operates out of an 110,000 square-foot state-of-the art facility in Mooresville, N.C. Â The Chevrolet-backed team has created alliances with General Motors’ powerhouse team Hendrick Motorsports, which provides engine support for both its NNS and NCWTS programs, and Earnhardt Technology Group for drive train and suspension technology assistance. For more information on Turner Scott Motorsports, visit www.TurnerScottMotorsports.com.
