Newly minted NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson didn't just hang up his helmet for the year after Phoenix.
The prolific sprint car racer was in action at the Hangtown 100 on Saturday night, dominating the race until his hopes were dashed late on.
Larson had been leading for more than 50 laps when the field was closed up by a late caution, setting up Daison Pursley to take a shot at passing for the lead with just five laps to go.
Pursley tried to pass on the inside of Turn 1, but hit the berm on the inside of the corner and slid up into Larson's car, flipping him all the way into the barrier.
Larson: 'Oh well, I guess'
Larson was safely out of his car in no time at all, leaving no doubt as to where he laid the blame for the crash with some sarcastic clapping and double thumbs up to eventual race winner Pursley.
Speaking after the race, Pursley said: “I felt like I had a run on Kyle and just hit the grease. I don’t want to win a race like that. It’s not how I race. I felt like I was able to race with him. I was just trying super hard. I just messed up and hit the grease.”
Larson, for his part, seemed to have calmed down by the time he spoke post-race, saying: "We had a good car, good race going, and Daison just must have built a run on the cushion behind me.
"He surprised me on entry to one, and then you hit the grease, I kind of had nowhere to go. It's just a bummer, but I get it, just because my entry was closed off, so he was going to have to pull the trigger right there.
"Oh well, I guess? I wish it wouldn't happen, and I'm sure he wishes it wouldn't happen too."
