1. Kyle Larson had his chance to race for a championship taken away by an appeals panel
When Kyle Larson took the checkered flag this past weekend in Miami, it could have been one of the biggest victories of his career, one that assured him of competing for a second straight Cup Series championship a few weeks from now.
Instead, it was relatively meaningless.
To be sure, wins are always welcome at the top level of stock car racing, and Larson more than deserved one at Homestead as he clearly had the car to beat. It just rang hollow since he was already out of contention to make this year’s Championship 4.
You may recall it took a series of unfortunate events, to borrow a phrase from a famous book series, for Larson to be eliminated in Charlotte, almost all of which were out of the No. 5 team’s control. But the most crucial, in terms of the championship picture, took place before engines ever fired at the ROVAL.
The off-track action that helped seal Larson’s fate took place on Oct. 6, when the National Motorsports Panel of Appeals decided to give William Byron back the 25 points he was originally docked for retaliating against Denny Hamlin at Texas. Without that ruling, Larson would have been in the Round of 8 even with all his other misfortune — and now in the Championship 4 thanks to his Homestead triumph.
Instead, he’s going to have to content himself with another trophy while Byron, as of today, will get a chance to go for the title in his stead. Was the appeal ruling the right one? Perhaps, but it’s hard to imagine a more significant off-track event that could help decide a NASCAR champion.
And that’s not the only one that’s relevant as the last few races play out …
2. The Cole Custer decision could loom large as well
Another factor in the perfect storm of misery that sunk Larson now has taken on increased significance too. Cole Custer slowed enough at the ROVAL to hinder other cars on the final lap and allow teammate Chase Briscoe to race his way into the Round of 8 on points.
Custer was fined, and his crew chief was suspended indefinitely. But those punishments didn’t really do much to change the fact that he affected the playoff race, as Briscoe advanced and Larson was knocked out.
A week ago, that didn’t feel all that bad. It definitely does now in the wake of Larson’s victory. And heaven forbid Briscoe wins Martinsville and Byron moves up one spot in points, because that would mean two drivers in the…
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