“It Was So Close!” Kyle Larson Confesses He Feared Losing Talladega Win Over Yellow-Line Controversy

One of the biggest controversies out last Sunday’s race at Talladega wasn’t the Joey Logano wreck that saw the driver getting flipped and collected 15 racers nor the Ryan Blaney wreck that ruined the season for many of the title contenders. It was the impressive charge from P11 to P1 from Kyle Larson in two corners that made all the fuss.

The reigning NASCAR Cup champion too much on edge of the yellow line on the last lap but escaped without a penalty, prompting race rigging accusation from a group of NASCAR fans. The talked about the drama on his appearance on Eric Estepp’s YouTube, admitting he was acarid the moment was going to get reviewed and he was getting strapped of the win.

Well, I do know that I got close to it because when I was mid-celebration. I was also like, ‘Oh, my gosh, please don’t say anything that they’re reviewing it or they called it back,’ because, yeah, I knew I had gotten really close.

Kyle Larson said on Talladega controversy.

Even during the victory lane celebrations, the veteran was really confused about the moment, and he even joked about it with his crew chief Cliff Daniels. In the conversation with the YouTuber, Kyle Larson admitted that when he later saw the images of the final lap that was circling online, he understood the reason for the controversy as it was more on the edge that he thought.

It’s always closer after you see it on film. In the car, it happened so quickly, and I was like, ‘I think I was close, but I don’t know.’ And then you see the still photos and stuff like, ‘Oh, my gosh, that was like much closer than I really thought it was. But I don’t know.’

Kyle Larson added via Eric Estepp’s YouTube channel.

Kyle Larson explained how he might’ve felt about a penalty

Later in the same conversation, the veteran admitted that it would have been a tough decision to make for NASCAR if they decided to punish him. He also asserted that he would’ve understood the sanctioning body’s position if they had stripped him of the win if they had seen a penalty worthy rule breach.

I mean, yeah, it’s just a tough call to make. I think it was so close. I think that makes it even tougher for them to make a decision or lean in that direction of penalizing me…It was so close that, like if I did get penalized, I could see like, ‘OK, I understand where they’re coming from.’

Kyle Larson asserted.

Later in the same conversation, the champion driver highlighted that the one reason he was not penalized would’ve been the fact that he tires didn’t fully cross the line. Owing to the vagueness of the rules, it hard for NASCAR to be consistent with this rule and he is glad that this time luck was on his side.

But I don’t know. I think it seems like the rule is a lot like what it would be in tennis or something, where unless you’re not over the line, fully over the line, I guess it’s OK. So, I think it is a tough call to be super consistent with. But I don’t know. I’m just glad, again, it worked out in my favor, and we were able to win.

Kyle Larson said.

The comments from the champion drivers show how challenging the victory was for the No:5 team. Though controversial, the moment has all but secured the championship for the Chevy driver and if he produces average runs in the next two races, no-one would replace him from winning back-to-back Bill France Cup.

Also Read: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Urges NASCAR to Change Yellow-Line Infarction Rules After Kyle Larson Talladega Controversy