Kyle Larson dealt with a key mistake during Sunday’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway, where a misheard radio call affected his run in Stage 2. The defending NASCAR Cup Series champion pushed harder than planned after misunderstanding a lap count from his spotter.
The moment came early in the stage and changed how he managed his tires and pace. Despite that setback, Larson remained competitive and delivered strong results throughout the race. The incident showed how a small communication issue can impact strategy in the long run, especially at a track like Bristol, where rhythm and timing matter. Larson still showed speed throughout the event.
NASCAR Cup Series miscommunication changes Larson’s Stage 2 run
The issue started when Larson received a radio message from his spotter, Tyler Monn. According to Dustin Albino, Monn told Larson there were 50 laps left in Stage 2. Larson thought he heard 15 laps to go.
“When Monn told Larson there were 50 laps remaining in the stage, he thought he had heard 15 to go and went hard.”
Larson reacted by pushing his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet harder than planned. That early push affected his tire wear and balance over the long run. As the stage continued, his pace dropped compared to other NASCAR Cup Series drivers who managed their runs more evenly.
Even with the mistake, Larson stayed in contention. He recovered and still won Stage 2 after already winning Stage 1 earlier in the NASCAR Cup Series race. The result showed he still had strong speed at Bristol despite the setback.
Kyle Larson explains his approach before the race
Before the race, Larson spoke about his comfort level at Bristol and how he reads the track conditions in the NASCAR Cup Series. He explained that the pace is fast and the racing line keeps changing as rubber builds up on the surface.
“We have a feel for the pace—the pace being really fast.”
He also described how drivers adjust during a run.
“Moving around and navigating traffic efficiently. The groove is changing. I can see that and how the line is affecting my car. You can create a lot of different angles and stuff.”
Those comments reflected his understanding of the track and how to adapt during a race.
Larson continues search for 2026 win
Larson entered the weekend still looking for his first win of the 2026 season in the NASCAR Cup Series. The gap since his last victory has stretched close to a year, even though he has continued to win in dirt racing.
“Running dirt races and getting wins in that makes it seem like it’s not that long ago that we won, but it’s been almost a year. I don’t know. I don’t feel like we’re that bad. Ultimately, celebrating the championship in Phoenix felt like a win in a lot of ways, but you want to get back to victory lane.”
He also spoke about the team’s effort going forward.
“We’re working as hard as we ever have as a group. We want to win. It’s just gotten tough for whatever reason. We have some good tracks coming up. Hopefully, we can execute. Sometimes it looks like we’ve made winning look easy, but it’s not. We’ve got to keep working at it.”
The race at Bristol showed both a mistake and a recovery. Larson lost pace after the miscommunication, but he still won both stages and remained competitive through the event in the NASCAR Cup Series.
NASCAR Cup Series: Kyle Larson Reacts After Bristol Motor Speedway Misstep