Diez: Talladega, Long Beach highlight busy racing weekend

It looked as though Kyle Larson was firmly in control and on his way to his second NASCAR Cup win of the season at Texas Motor Speedway last Sunday. Then the wheels came off — literally. Well, it was only one wheel, but it resulted in an unscheduled pit stop and a two-lap penalty, effectively ruining his day. He did manage to get back on the lead lap, finishing 21st, while Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott finally won on the third overtime restart. Elliott broke a 42-race winless streak dating to October 2022 while second-place finisher Brad Keselowski continues the longest losing streak among current drivers at 107. However, it was his best finish since leaving Team Penske to take over part ownership of the Roush Fenway Keselowski team. Despite his poor finishing position, Larson’s two stage wins kept him in the points lead with 335, 17 points ahead of Martin Truex Jr. Denny Hamlin, with two wins on the season, is third and Elliott’s win vaults him to fourth ahead of teammate William Byron.

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Perhaps Larson’s incredible speed at Texas can be attributed to his IndyCar test session last Wednesday. He was second-fastest with a best lap at 226.384 mph, bested only by 2023 Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden. After going 226, the 190-mph laps at Texas must have seemed like walking pace. Larson turned a faster Indy lap than Ganassi drivers Scott Dixon and Alex Palou as well as top Penske performer Scott McLaughlin and young gun Colton Herta. Larson will be the fifth driver to attempt the “double,” racing in both the Indy 500 and the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte on the Memorial Day weekend. Kurt Busch was the latest to make both races, 10 years ago in 2014 and finishing sixth in both. Prior to Busch, Tony Stewart, Robbie Gordon, and John Andretti all accomplished this incredible feat. Gordon did it five times and Stewart twice. Davy Jones attempted it in 1995 but failed to qualify for the 600. And Jimmy Johnson was rumored to make the attempt two years ago with Roger Penske’s team, but it never materialized. Of them all, I think Larson has the best chance to win one or both, given his talent and versatility. He will also have the advantage of having his regular spotter, Tyler Monn, in his ear at both races.

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This will be a busy weekend for race fans. NASCAR Cup and Xfinity are at Talladega, Formula 1 is in China, IndyCar and IMSA are at Long Beach. Talladega is one of those wildcard races where anything can happen and anyone can win. Keselowski leads active drivers with six wins there, and given his performance last Sunday, maybe he can make it seven. Ryan Blaney won at Talladega last fall, his third, and Kyle Busch won last spring, his second. Texas winner Elliott has two Talladega victories and Joey Logano three. Kyle Larson has none, but this might be his year.

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Formula 1 is back in China for the 17th outing after a four-year hiatus. Among active drivers, Lewis Hamilton is a six-time winner, Fernando Alonso has won twice, and Daniel Ricciardo once. Given season results so far, there’s unlikely to be a repeat winner this year.

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IndyCar is back in action for the Long Beach Grand Prix. There are seven previous winners in the field, with Kyle Kirkwood the defending champion. Alexander Rossi and Will Power have two wins each and Josef Newgarden, Colton Herta, Scott Dixon, and Helio Castroneves one apiece. The IMSA prototypes and GT cars will race on Saturday, IndyCar on Sunday. TV listings are available in the Saturday Appeal sports section.