Larson’s Inspection Challenges Impact Hendrick Motorsports at EchoPark Speedway
At EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, Kyle Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet faced significant hurdles during pre-qualifying inspection, failing twice before finally passing on the third attempt. This outcome resulted in the ejection of the car chief and the loss of pit stall selection for Larson’s team, forcing them to pick from the remaining available stalls.
The qualifying session itself was impacted by adverse weather and a subsequent lightning delay, resulting in a reduction to a single round of qualifying. Larson, who will be the 36th driver to take to the track, previously achieved a best qualifying position of third at Atlanta since the track’s reconfiguration. For reference, he qualified 17th during the race earlier this year.
In addition to Larson’s issues, Hendrick Motorsports faced sanctions stemming from the recent NASCAR Xfinity race at Pocono, where the No. 17 Chevrolet, driven by Chase Elliott, was penalized for infractions. This has resulted in a $40,000 fine, loss of points, and a three-race suspension for the crew chief.
As the race weekend progresses, Larson and Hendrick Motorsports will need to navigate these setbacks to remain competitive in the standings.
