Kyle Larson is targeting his second championship this season, to add to his impressive 2021 campaign that included 10 wins. That year, Larson’s efforts nearly saw him match Jimmie Johnson’s 2007 feat of winning four consecutive races. That would have made him the first driver of this era to achieve the milestone. If not for a flat tire that dashed his hopes.
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The moment came at Pocono in 2021. While chasing what would have been his fifth victory and fourth in a row (following wins at Charlotte, Sonoma, and Nashville), Larson’s luck turned for the worse.
He was lined up for victory after a fierce contest with Alex Bowman in the final 29 laps of the race. But a left-front tire failure catapulted his Chevrolet into the outside wall at Turn 3 on the final lap. It relegated him to a P9 finish.
A NASCAR fan page revived the moment by posting a video of the race’s final lap. It sparked a nostalgia wave among fans.
“I hate you for making me relive this,” lamented one fan.
Another fan connected it to a personal moment. “Remember this after taking photos after my wedding, was on the way up to the reception and they had it on the TV at the bar. Stood there watched it. The newly wedded wife was very impatient with me.”
Remember this after taking photos after my wedding, was on the way up to the reception and they had it on the tv at the bar. Stood there watched it. The newly wedded wife was very impatient with me.
— hi my name is (@JMeins32) January 31, 2025
Fans couldn’t help but highlight the great season Larson had in 2021. “An amazing year for Larson. If that tire wouldn’t have blown it would have been 11 wins including the All-Star race. One of the only championships in this format era that was 100% legit,” wrote a fan.
One of the best races I’ve witnessed in person
— Tony (@j_dem_7) January 31, 2025
A spectator who experienced the heartbreak at the track shared, “Worst beat I’ve ever had on a bet, I was at the race saw him take the white started cheering they came back around and was confused where he was.”
The incident led to Larson’s first finish outside the top-2 in seven races that year. Had he won that race at Pocono, he would have been the 2021 Cup Champion, with 11 season victories.
Eventually, Larson sealed his championship, winning five of the 10 Playoff races, securing hits in four of the final five at Charlotte Roval, Texas, Kansas, and Phoenix. This marked one of the most dominant title runs since former Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson.
Having shown exceptional consistency in subsequent seasons, finishing 2024 in P6 despite being the winningest driver, it will be fascinating to see if he can secure his second title this year.
