Larson dominates to take third Chili Bowl win

Leading start to finish through Saturday’s 39th annual Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy Drink, Kyle Larson took his third career victory at the Midget racing event in the Paul Silva-owned HendrickCars.com/FloRacing No. 1k.

“We had a great car,” said Larson. “Paul Silva has been working really hard on the Midget the last three years, and for as bad as we were in 2022 with the same car, to come away with a Chili Bowl win feels great, especially with how difficult Monday was..

Getting the point over Landon Brooks to start the 40-lap feature, the Matt Wood Racing No. 57w, making his first feature starter, had to contend with Daison Pursley. Taking second on lap 13, Pursley and Larson were quick to find traffic, with Larson’s night nearly ending as a pair of slower cars came together. Over the front of Brenham Crouch, Larson somehow kept rolling.

“Being at the back of the pack, they can be impatient, and they came together and stopped right in front of me and had to ramp over his left front, and it stalled midair, so when I landed, I was like, please, please refire, and it did,” said Larson of the near race-ending moment.

Running every line, and at times the wall to keep pace over Pursley, the pair again had slower traffic bring the fight for the lead into view, while Pursley continued to be stalked by Brooks.

Back to green after a late-race caution as a frontstretch banner became torn and pulled on the track right as Larson slipped and climbed the wall, the final dash to the finish saw Larson and Pursley all over the cushion, with the CB Industries No. 86 making one final charge, but Larson took the win by 0.365s.

Making the run from eight, Shane Golobic made it to third in the closing laps, with ninth-starting Ryan Bernal following to fourth. Landon Brooks completed the top five.