via RotoWorld/Dan Beaver.
Kyle Larson has three full seasons in the books and 2017 is going to be a pivotal year.
Having made the Chase last year, much will be expected of Larson this season. Then again, much would have been expected of him regardless, because like Joey Loganoduring his Joe Gibbs Racing years, there is a ton of untapped potential lying under the surface. Chip Ganassi Racing believes they can bring it to the forefront and they can challenge for a championship. Under the new knock-out style format, they might just be able to accomplish feat if precious resources are allocated appropriately.
The dominance of similarly-configured, 1.5-mile and short, flat tracks in the playoffs is an obvious place for this team to concentrate. Altogether, these two track types account for half or more than half of the races—depending on how one characterizes the two-mile tracks and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Of these, Larson is better on the big tracks where he can search for a comfortable groove—and that usually is high, wide, and handsome—but once more his potential is somewhat undermined by reality.
In 2017, Larson must finish races well. He has not yet achieved the status of Kyle Busch in regard to his ability to go all or nothing, but strong runs are too often ruined by a brush against the wall. Occasionally these extracurricular trips result in just enough damage to drop him off the lead lap—or cost just enough momentum to keep him from making that final surge to the lead.
Larson finally earned his first Cup victory at Michigan International Speedway in his 100th start. He proved his versatility in the coming weeks with a third at Darlington Raceway that sent researchers scrambling to books to determine the last time a driver won his first and second races in consecutive events. After that, he finished second on the short track of Richmond International Raceway—a course that has attributes of both an unrestricted, intermediate speedway and short, flat track.
Larson lacked enough consistency to advance in the Chase beyond round one, but he finished strong and that is why he is projected in the top 10. A third on the short, flat track of Phoenix International Raceway and a second on the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway suggest he will run well on the courses that are most important next year.
In order to advance to the championship round, Larson is going to have to win during the Chase and minimize his mistakes. With a little luck, he will be part of the Championship Four.
Victories: Michigan (summer)
Top-fives: 10 (.278)
Top-10s: 15 (.417)
Top-15s: 23 (.639)
Having made the Chase last year, much will be expected of Larson this season. Then again, much would have been expected of him regardless, because like Joey Loganoduring his Joe Gibbs Racing years, there is a ton of untapped potential lying under the surface. Chip Ganassi Racing believes they can bring it to the forefront and they can challenge for a championship. Under the new knock-out style format, they might just be able to accomplish feat if precious resources are allocated appropriately.
The dominance of similarly-configured, 1.5-mile and short, flat tracks in the playoffs is an obvious place for this team to concentrate. Altogether, these two track types account for half or more than half of the races—depending on how one characterizes the two-mile tracks and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Of these, Larson is better on the big tracks where he can search for a comfortable groove—and that usually is high, wide, and handsome—but once more his potential is somewhat undermined by reality.
In 2017, Larson must finish races well. He has not yet achieved the status of Kyle Busch in regard to his ability to go all or nothing, but strong runs are too often ruined by a brush against the wall. Occasionally these extracurricular trips result in just enough damage to drop him off the lead lap—or cost just enough momentum to keep him from making that final surge to the lead.
Larson finally earned his first Cup victory at Michigan International Speedway in his 100th start. He proved his versatility in the coming weeks with a third at Darlington Raceway that sent researchers scrambling to books to determine the last time a driver won his first and second races in consecutive events. After that, he finished second on the short track of Richmond International Raceway—a course that has attributes of both an unrestricted, intermediate speedway and short, flat track.
Larson lacked enough consistency to advance in the Chase beyond round one, but he finished strong and that is why he is projected in the top 10. A third on the short, flat track of Phoenix International Raceway and a second on the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway suggest he will run well on the courses that are most important next year.
In order to advance to the championship round, Larson is going to have to win during the Chase and minimize his mistakes. With a little luck, he will be part of the Championship Four.
Victories: Michigan (summer)
Top-fives: 10 (.278)
Top-10s: 15 (.417)
Top-15s: 23 (.639)
Track
|
3-Yr
Avg. Fin |
Career
Avg. Fin |
Best
Fin |
Career
Attempts |
Career
Top-10s |
Race 1
|
Race 2
|
Darlington Raceway
|
7.00
|
7.00
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
| |
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
|
7.00
|
7.00
|
5
|
3
|
3
|
5
| |
Homestead - Miami Speedway
|
8.75
|
8.75
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
2
| |
Pocono Raceway
|
8.83
|
8.83
|
5
|
6
|
3
|
11
|
6
|
Chicagoland Speedway
|
9.33
|
9.33
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
18
| |
Dover Downs International
|
9.33
|
9.33
|
2
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
25
|
Richmond International Raceway
|
11.33
|
11.33
|
2
|
6
|
1
|
15
|
2
|
Phoenix International Raceway
|
13.17
|
13.17
|
3
|
6
|
2
|
12
|
3
|
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
|
13.33
|
13.33
|
2
|
6
|
3
|
17
|
10
|
Michigan International Speedway +
|
14.17
|
14.17
|
1
|
6
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
Charlotte Motor Speedway
|
14.67
|
17.86
|
5
|
7
|
2
|
13
|
5
|
Watkins Glen International
|
15.00
|
15.00
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
29
| |
Texas Motor Speedway
|
17.17
|
18.00
|
5
|
7
|
2
|
14
|
15
|
Sonoma Raceway
|
18.33
|
18.33
|
12
|
3
|
12
| ||
Martinsville Speedway
|
18.60
|
22.50
|
3
|
7
|
1
|
3
|
14
|
Atlanta Motor Speedway
|
20.00
|
20.00
|
8
|
3
|
1
|
26
| |
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
|
20.33
|
20.33
|
8
|
3
|
1
|
34
| |
Kansas Speedway
|
20.50
|
20.50
|
2
|
6
|
1
|
35
|
30
|
Talladega SuperSpeedway
|
21.17
|
21.17
|
6
|
6
|
2
|
29
|
6
|
Bristol Motor Speedway
|
21.50
|
21.50
|
7
|
6
|
2
|
35
|
24
|
Auto Club Speedway
|
22.33
|
22.33
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
39
| |
Daytona International Speedway *
|
26.67
|
26.67
|
6
|
6
|
2
|
7
|
6
|
Kentucky Speedway
|
31.33
|
31.33
|
19
|
3
|
19
|
+ Top-five sweeps
* Top-10 sweeps
* Top-10 sweeps
No comments:
Post a Comment