Runner-up finish in Truck Series race at Bristol ensures Kyle Larson won't complete triple sweep

A triple sweep for Kyle Larson will have to wait. 

After a heartbreaking loss in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Mar. 22 was the only thing keeping Larson from becoming just the second driver in NASCAR history to win all three races held on a race weekend, Bristol provided an excellent opportunity for the 2021 Cup Series champion to avenge his defeat. 

Friday's Truck Series race ensured a weekend sweep won't even be a possibility when Larson rolls off the grid for Saturday's 300-lap NASCAR Xfinity Series. 

Rain forced a cancellation of practice and qualifying, putting Larson and the No. 07 team 11th on the grid. 

Larson drove up the sixth by the end of Stage 1 but faded to 12th by the end of Stage 2. When the pay window opened in the closing laps, however, he was back inside the top 10. 

A late yellow flag allowed Larson to line up on the second row for the race's final restart, and a less-than-stellar restart from Corey Heim afforded Larson the opportunity to clear Heim for second and put race leader Chandler Smith in his sights. 

Even with a slight tire advantage, however, Larson was unable to get close to Smith, who drove away and earned the win by 0.934 seconds. 

The runner-up finish is the 10th top-five and 13th top-10 finish for Larson in 17 Truck Series starts. 

"Unfortunate to not get the win, but we still have two more chances the rest of the weekend," Larson told Fox Sports. 

Larson is not scheduled to make any more Truck Series starts in 2025. If he does not return to Truck Series competition this season, his two starts will entail one win and an average finish of 1.5.