Kyle Larson Spins Out at Chicagoland

Kyle Larson's day took a dramatic turn after running third at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday. He finished second in Stage 1 and was running third early in Stage 2 when his car snapped loose exiting Turn 4.

Larson's No. 5 Chevrolet spun across the apron and slid into the muddy grass, bringing out the caution. Television replays showed the car bouncing over one of Chicagoland's rough bumps before breaking loose.

The incident occurred just a handful of laps into Stage 2. Larson's car became stuck in the mud, leaving him unable to move under his own power. He reported the issue over the radio, saying "I'm stuck."

Safety crews eventually pulled the No. 5 Chevrolet free, but Larson's problems were far from over. The car suffered a flat tire and scraped the racing surface as Larson slowly limped around the track trying to reach pit road.

Radio traffic indicated significant damage underneath the Chevrolet, with the car making loud scraping noises throughout the lap. Larson eventually reached pit road after completing nearly a full lap with the damaged race car.

The Hendrick Motorsports team began repairs, and Larson later returned to the race. However, radio traffic indicated the No. 5 still had "a lot less grip" than before the incident as Larson continued several laps off the pace.

Larson's race had already started with adversity, as the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet failed pre-race inspection twice before passing on its third attempt on Saturday. This resulted in crew chief Jesse Saunders being ejected for the remainder of the weekend and the team losing pit stall selection.

The incident came after crew chiefs spent the weekend warning that Chicagoland's aging surface and unique bumps could become one of Sunday's biggest challenges. Larson's strong start ended with a costly spin, affecting his NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday.