Larson and Hamlin each made their last inexperienced flag pit cease in Sunday’s race on the identical lap within the last stage, however Larson was capable of get off pit highway first and held the lead when a warning interrupted the cycle of stops.
Hamlin, nevertheless, grabbed it proper again on the following restart as Martin Truex Jr. hit Larson from behind and the rest of the race was a cat and mouse chase that Larson felt he had little likelihood to win.
“I went late within the zone. Martin was making an attempt to time it behind me. He hit me proper after I needed to go. Screwed up. Acquired lots of wheel spin,” Larson stated about dropping his lead on the restart on lap 329 of 400.
“He was sort of capable of out-race me into (Flip) 1. His automotive was actually good on brief runs. I may tempo it, get nearer to him on the finish of the runs.”
That’s precisely what passed off because the race ended with a 62-lap inexperienced flag run.
Watch: Denny hamlin grabs career-win No. 54 with Dover victory
Larson closed to inside one or two automotive lengths within the last laps however Hamlin’s potential to shift strains on the observe saved Larson at bay to the end.
“It’s really easy to air block. Not that he was doing something soiled or something like that. It’s simply really easy because the chief, particularly at a spot like this, to close off the air on the blokes behind you,” Larson stated.
“I knew after I acquired inside three automotive lengths, he was going to begin shifting round. I couldn’t actually do something. I used to be making an attempt all types of various angles and speeds, all that. Nothing may generate sufficient pace to get shut sufficient I assume to do something.
“That was a bummer.”
Nonetheless, it was a powerful efficiency for Larson, who needed to overcome a poor qualifying effort that had him begin the race in twenty first.
He rapidly confirmed the pace in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet by racing his approach to fifth on the finish of the primary 120-lap stage. He then captured the Stage 2 victory over his teammate Alex Bowman.
“One other stage win sounds good. Good factors day. We’d have cherished to get a win,” stated Larson, whose solely Dover win got here in 2019. “All the time quick right here at Dover. Simply wanted to be somewhat bit higher on the restarts.
“I’ve misplaced lots of races on restarts right here. Simply preserve making an attempt to get higher.”
