Kyle Larson beats Chris Buescher to earn closest NASCAR Cup Series finish ever

Monday, May 6, 2024 at 1:55 AM

Sports Daypop

After starting nearly three hours late because of a rain delay and finishing under the lights, Kyle Larson won the closest race in NASCAR Cup Series history by 0.001 seconds over Chris Buescher at Kansas Speedway on Sunday to win the AdventHealth 400. Larson’s margin of victory over Buescher was not only the closest finish in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series, it was the second-closest finish in the history of all of NASCAR’s national touring series.

After a caution flag forced a green-white-checkered finish, Larson pulled behind Buescher on the backstretch of the final lap, then came around him through the final corner. Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr. finished side by side for third and fourth spot just behind the Top 2, with Denny Hamlin coming in fifth. The top four drivers all finished within 0.075 seconds of each other.

Buescher thought he won the race until the official announcement was made, with Larson’s spotter even having told him that Buescher had won. Larson said after the win: “That was wild. That race from start to finish was amazing… [The fans] got their money’s worth today.” Added Buescher: “That sucks to be that close. I thought I may have had that one… [it] hurts.”

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