In the first race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series™ Playoffs, Kyle Larson put it all on the line – or, more accurately, the wall.
On the final lap of the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, second-place Larson decided to “video game it” in a last-ditch attempt to pass race leader Denny Hamlin and cement a spot in the next round of The Playoffs. As he gained speed, Larson purposely bounced his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet off the wall, nearly getting by Hamlin for the victory. In the end, Larson finished in second place
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“I thought if I rode the wall, I could squeeze to his outside and who knows what would have happened after that down the front stretch,” Larson said. “I actually got to his bumper a little too early and he kind of protected the wall. It was wild and I hope the fans enjoyed the desperation. Just came one spot short."
