Kyle Larson Achieves Fastest Lap at COTA Despite Challenging Race
In a dramatic turn of events during the NASCAR Cup Series race held at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), Kyle Larson clocked the fastest lap, earning him an additional championship point. Xfinity Racing shared the news via Twitter, highlighting Larson’s impressive lap time of 1:39:24, which he secured despite a spin towards the end of the race.
“Found a way to score an extra point after that late spin. @KyleLarsonRacin had the @NASCAR Cup Series #FastestLap at COTA.”
However, Larson’s performance was not without challenges. Starting the race from seventh place, nestled between competitors Shane van Gisbergen and Kyle Busch, he faced significant hurdles early on. Confusion regarding the track limits in the “esses” section led to a series of complications, establishing a pattern of misfortune that would define his race.
The situation escalated when Larson experienced a critical mechanical failure—the right front wheel of his Chevrolet No. 5 detached shortly after he exited the pits. This unfortunate event saw the wheel rolling onto the grass but thankfully avoiding the main racing surface, allowing the event to continue unimpeded under the green flag. Nonetheless, Larson received a two-lap penalty for the incident.
In accordance with NASCAR regulations, a disconnected wheel incurs penalties not just during the race but may also lead to post-race sanctions for the team. As a result, Larson’s crew will now face potential suspensions and further penalties spanning two or more race weekends.
Race Overview: A Triumph for Christopher Bell
As Larson grappled with his setbacks, Christopher Bell emerged victorious at the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, claiming his second consecutive win of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Following his recent triumph at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bell made history as the first driver since Kevin Harvick in 2018 to win two of the first three races in a season.
Bell clinched the victory in a thrilling finish, outpacing Kyle Busch with just five laps remaining, despite Busch leading the race for a striking 42 laps. Busch’s tires began to falter, and he finished in fifth place after struggling to maintain pace.
“Almost deja vu from last year here. These road-course races are so much fun. Kyle (Busch) was leading, and we tried to be so cautious after what happened between us last year. His car started falling off, and ours was still strong. I kept thinking, ‘don’t beat yourself.’ We didn’t have the superspeedway last week circled, but we certainly had this road course in our sights.”(via Newsweek)
Busch, reflecting on Bell’s victory, acknowledged the strength of Bell’s car, stating:
“We had a really good No. 8 Rebel Bourbon Chevy to be able to push that hard. I just wish that maybe we had equal tires to the No. 20 (Bell). I don’t know if that was all the difference.. .. I just didn’t have anything there at the end to compete with those guys.”(via Newsweek)
In terms of overall performance, Tyler Reddick finished third after starting from pole position, and Chase Elliott made a commendable recovery from an earlier misfortune to secure fourth. Bubba Wallace, who won the first stage, fell victim to a strategic pit stop decision and ended the race in 20th. Meanwhile, Ryan Preece also experienced challenges, winning Stage 2 but ultimately finishing in 33rd.