{"id":8861,"date":"2021-03-14T20:28:45","date_gmt":"2021-03-15T00:28:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=8861"},"modified":"2022-07-22T12:09:54","modified_gmt":"2022-07-22T16:09:54","slug":"three-big-stories-phoenix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2021\/03\/14\/three-big-stories-phoenix\/","title":{"rendered":"Three big stories: Phoenix"},"content":{"rendered":"

NASCAR waved the checkered flag on its truncated west coast swing, Sunday. From\u00a0Kyle Larson<\/strong>‘s roller coaster afternoon and\u00a0Bubba Wallace<\/strong>‘s great run to the low-downforce package, here’s my three big stories from Phoenix Raceway.<\/p>\n

Three big stories: Phoenix No. 1: Kyle Larson’s roller coaster afternoon<\/h2>\n
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AVONDALE, Ariz. – MARCH 14: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, pits during the NASCAR Cup Series Instacart 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 14, 2021 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo: Sean Gardner\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Calling Larson’s afternoon in the valley of the Sun is an understatement.<\/p>\n

He started the Instacart 500 from the rear of the field, because his car failed pre-race inspection twice. He went right back to the rear, after a speeding penalty under the first caution. But he flexed his racing prowess and worked his way to a ninth-place finish in the first stage.<\/p>\n

Halfway through the second stage, Larson climbed up to second. Then he sped on pit road, again, and served a pass through penalty. Fortunately for him,\u00a0Corey LaJoie<\/strong> stretched out his run and he remained on the lead lap.<\/p>\n

By the start of the final stage, Larson was back in the top-10.<\/p>\n

After the final green flag cycle of pit stops, Larson trailed\u00a0Martin Truex Jr.<\/strong><\/a> by two seconds, and was reeling him in. But after debris brought out a caution on Lap 262, he couldn’t take advantage of it.<\/p>\n

He brought his car home to a seventh-place finish.<\/p>\n

It’s just further proof that his time away from NASCAR in 2020<\/a> didn’t dull his racing prowess.<\/p>\n

Three big stories: Phoenix No 2: Bubba Wallace’s great run<\/h2>\n
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AVONDALE, Ariz. – MARCH 14: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonalds Toyota, and Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, Lead the field during the NASCAR Cup Series Instacart 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 14, 2021 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo: Christian Petersen\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Don’t let Wallace’s 16th-place finish fool you. 23XI Racing brought a top-10 car to Phoenix, this weekend.<\/p>\n

With 82 laps to go, Wallace overtook\u00a0Ricky Stenhouse Jr.<\/strong> and cracked his way into the top-10. Not because of a restart, as the race was well into a green flag run, but because he made it happen.<\/p>\n

When debris from\u00a0Tyler Reddick<\/strong>‘s car brought out a caution with 52 laps to go, most of the field came down pit road. Wallace, however, gambled on track position and took over the race lead. In theory, it was a smart play. He ran just seven laps under green on his current set of tires. Even team co-owner\u00a0Denny Hamlin<\/strong> thought it was a good move.<\/p>\n

For this gamble to work, however, Wallace needed more cars to stay out.<\/p>\n

He was the only one who stayed out.<\/p>\n

And the results were kind of predictable.<\/p>\n

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Cars are sliding everywhere in the desert!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa: FOX \ud83d\udcf1: https:\/\/t.co\/oWWAusOO8X<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/yOvNbzpbab<\/a><\/p>\n

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 14, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n