SPRINT CUPChip Ganassi Racing Continues to Struggle
By Ashley McCubbin |
Kyle Larson can look back on his day at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and know one thing for certain – lady luck just wasn’t there.
After starting in the 17th spot, Larson was unable to break into top 10, falling even further behind when he suffered a pit road speeding penalty under green at Lap 153.
The day just continued to do downhill from there as he made contact with the wall with 69 laps to go after AJ Allmendinger got up behind him, freeing him up. Later in the race, he was involved in a second incident with Regan Smith as the pair got together, causing both to go around.
The driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet ultimately finished in the 34th spot.
The lackluster finish marks a continuation of ongoing struggles as he finished 26th a week ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he fought handling all day.
Larson isn’t the only driver within the organization who is struggling, though. His teammate Jamie McMurray has yet to finish in the top 15 this season, scoring a 17th-place finish on Sunday afternoon.
The team struggled last year on the mile-and-a-half tracks, too, with Larson only scoring two top 10s in the 13 events. McMurray, meanwhile, managed to post three top 10s in those races.
It looked as though they had worked out their problems, by virtue of Larson’s fifth-place finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway and McMurray ending last season with four straight top-15 finishes. The first couple of races of 2016, though, haven’t gone as hoped.
Larson entered the sport, hyped as someone who would win races and contend for championships. Now in his third season, he has yet to visit victory lane or be a part of the conversation at season’s end.
For Larson to live up to expectations, Chip Ganassi and company must figure out how to excel on the cookie cutter tracks.
Chip Ganassi Racing Continues to Struggle – POPULAR SPEED
