Kyle Larson kicked off the 2015 season of the newly renamed NASCAR XFINITY Series at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday afternoon. Larson sported the ENEOS colors for the third time in his XFINITY Series career, and the first with the new HScott Motorsports with Chip Ganassi team.
Larson started the race in 27th position after not making it out of the first round of knockout qualifying. The 120-lap race was highlighted by several large wrecks and two red flag periods that collectively forced nearly half the field to retire early from the race. A pit road penalty just past halfway slowed the progress through the field, however he managed to drive his way back to the front in short order, including a stint as the race’s leader.
Larson was able to move his car back towards the front of the field during the late stages of the race. Unfortunately, coming to the race’s final lap, Larson got sideways in the tri-oval and made contact with a fellow competitor, moving from 2nd to eighth place, where he would finish the race.
Results (with starting position) from the Alert Florida Today 300 at Daytona International Speedway
1. (8) No. 16 Reed, Ford
2. (10) No. 60 Buescher, Ford
3. (34) No. 3 Dillion, Chervolet Camaro
8. (27) No. 42 Larson, ENEOS Chevrolet Camaro
NOTES OF INTEREST:
· This was HScott Motorsports with Chip Ganassi’s first XFINITY Series start
· This was Larson’s fifth XFINITY Series start at Daytona International Speedway
· Larson lead once for three laps
· The race was slowed by four cautions for 17 laps, including two red flag, totaling over 35 minutes
HSMCG QUOTE BOARD:
Kyle Larson – No. 42 ENEOS Chevrolet Camaro: – “I have to thank Mike (Shiplett) and all guys on the ENEOS Camaro. We didn’t get the qualifying effort that we wanted, but our car had a lot of speed to move through the field. On the last restart I really thought we had a chance to win, but I got sideways in the tri-oval and made contact with another car. I hated tearing up the car after the guys have worked so hard over the winter, but I know for sure this team will compete for wins in 2015.”
The NASCAR XFINITY Series will move next to the Atlanta Motor Speedway next weekend. Catch practice Friday at 10 a.m. and 11:30 am ET and qualifying at Saturday at 9 a.m. ET, both on FOX Sports 1. The Hisense 250 will take place Feb. 28, 1:30 p.m. ET. FOX Sports 1, Sirius/XM NASCAR Channel 90 and PRN affiliated radio stations will have live coverage of both events.
HSCOTT MOTORSPORTS WITH CHIP GANASSI
HScott Motorsports, which was established in 1989 as Phoenix Racing, is owned and operated by Harry Scott, Jr. and competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The team competes fulltime in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Michael Annett driving the No. 46 Pilot / Flying J Chevrolet SS and Justin Allgaier driving the No. 51 Brandt Chevrolet SS, both with technical support from Hendrick Motorsports. Scott is also the owner of HScott Motorsports with Chip Ganassi, which fields the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. His vision is to build a championship contender by developing talented young drivers, partnering with dedicated sponsors and competing hard every week.