Super Sub Larson Drives JRM No. 88 To Texas Xfinity Score

Kyle Larson celebrates with a burnout after winning Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway. (John Harrelson/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

FORT WORTH, Texas – Mardy Lindley made his call, Kyle Larson reacted accordingly, and the JR Motorsports super sub went on to a double-overtime NASCAR Xfinity Series victory Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway.

Replacing an injured Connor Zilisch in the No. 88 Chevrolet, Larson pitted for fresh tires under caution with 10 laps left at the behest of Lindley, then used the newer rubber to charge from seventh to the win in the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300.

Larson’s winning move came on the first lap of the second extra period, when he drove around late leader Sam Mayer, whose Haas Factory Team Ford was carrying the race entitlement sponsor onboard but on older tires in the closing moments.

After that, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion pulled away to the checkered flag by 1.265 seconds over Joe Gibbs Racing rookie Taylor Gray, who started fourth on the last restart and ended as the runner-up.

It marked the 17th Xfinity Series win of Larson’s Xfinity Series career, his second of the season, and his second at Texas.

Larson got the call to drive Zilisch’s car Wednesday, after the talented teenager was ruled out for the weekend due to a lower back injury suffered in a last-lap crash at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Ninety-six hours later, the decision by JRM to put Larson in the seat was proven positive.

“It was a lot of survival, I felt like in that race,” Larson said. “I got in some wrecks, [and] the balance we had to work on quite a bit. So, it was fun. I felt like if I could ever get the lead, I could stretch it out, but I couldn’t get by Justin (Allgaier). He was running where I needed to be.

Kyle Larson celebrates in victory lane at Texas Motor Speedway. (Matthew Thacker/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

“Thanks to JRM for letting me come run this thing here today. Obviously, I wish Connor was in the car, but it means a lot that they thought of me to call up to run this thing.”

As Larson fought through the field twice – once after starting 20th and again following an uncontrolled tire penalty at the end of stage one – defending series champion Justin Allgaier dominated most of the day.

Allgaier led three times for a race-high 99 laps, including winning stage one, and was in position to win until a late round of green-flag pit stops shuffled the deck and led to disaster for the Riverton, Ill., native.

After pitting with 48 laps to go and running 12th at the time, Allgaier came up on the back of the slower No. 5 of Kris Wright. When Wright came off the bottom lane exiting turn four, Allgaier tried to duck inside but couldn’t avoid contact.

The No. 7 Chevrolet slid across the track and hard into the outside wall, suffering enough damage to end Allgaier’s day and leave the regular season point leader 35th in the final rundown.

Larson, who had leap-frogged Allgaier during the round of pit service, took control at that point and was well on his way to victory by more than six seconds when late chaos materialized to try and deny him.

Rookie Corey Day, ironically driving the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet that Larson took to victory lane April 12 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, hit the inside wall in turn three to bring out the ninth of 11 cautions on the afternoon.

It erased Larson’s massive advantage, but led to the stop for tires that ultimately won him the race.

Mayer stayed out along with five others in an attempt to steal the trophy, and made a brilliant move through the middle of three-wide on the first overtime attempt to grab the lead from third place.

Jeremy Clements’ crash in turn two set up one final sprint, however, and Larson ripped the outside of turns one and two to secure the top spot for good.

Gray’s second-place finish was his career-best in Xfinity Series competition, and he was followed by JGR teammate Riley Herbst in third.

Stage two winner Austin Hill crossed fourth ahead of Mayer, who closed the top five. Sixth through 10th were Harrison Burton, Jesse Love, Ryan Sieg, Brandon Jones, and Jeb Burton.

Big Machine Racing’s Nick Sanchez, who led lap 193 after the caution for Day’s incident wrapped up and averaged running in the top five all day, restarted fourth for the final overtime but drifted wide in turn two and hit the wall with his No. 48 Chevrolet.

Sanchez faded to 20th, the final car on the lead lap at the finish.

After 12 straight race weeks to open the season, Xfinity Series teams get two weeks off before resuming action at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, where Chase Elliott came from 30th to win last year’s race.

Broadcast coverage of the BetMGM 300 is slated for Saturday, May 24 at 4:30 p.m. ET, live on The CW, the Performance Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.