Late caution, pit decision derails Kyle Larson's dominant race at Bristol

Just as he did a year ago in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series spring race at Bristol, Kyle Larson had the field well in his rearview mirror and appeared to be cruising to a win. 

But unlike he did in 2025, it wasn't Larson in victory lane at the conclusion of Saturday's race. Despite a dominant showing in which he swept the stages and led 229 of 300 laps, a late caution undid what would've been a winning performance.

Kyle Larson comes up just shy of Bristol win

With the race under caution with 27 laps to go, crew chief Mardy Lindley opted to bring Larson down pit road for fresh tires. Only three drivers — Connor Zilisch, Brent Crews and Corey Day — stayed out. 

Despite his new tires, however, Larson couldn't get around Crews or Zilisch. Not until Crews scuffed the wall in the closing laps could Larson get to second, and a mistake from Larson himself in which he hit the wall ended any chance he had at chasing down Zilisch for the win.

"When you run as long as we did, it's hard to stay out," Larson told CW Sports. "I was split. If I stay out, who knows how many people pit behind me? Everybody might pit and it might look different, worse than second, potentially."

"It was just greasy really high. I think it got [Crews]. When Brent made a mistake, I got to second. Needed [Zilisch] to make a mistake. I made the mistake behind him."

Larson will now go for a repeat win in Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500, which he dominated a season ago by leading 411 of 500 laps.