Kyle Larson catches up with Jessie Punch and reacts to his Kansas win that is officially the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history.
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00:00Here in Victory Lane at Kansas Speedway with Kyle Larson your winner of the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history Kyle
00:06Have you had a chance to watch the finish yet? Just now for the first time so that was
00:10Closer than I even you know thought I guess obviously I knew you know point zero zero one or whatever it was
00:16It's gonna be close, but like I couldn't tell that I won watching that so just
00:21Crazy can't believe I was able to get side-by-side with him can't believe I didn't you know spin or crash
00:26You know because I was just kind of out of control
00:28It didn't really look like it as much, but I I had my hands full behind the wheels so just um new incredible finish
00:34And whether I won or not I was I was still happy like I didn't know that I won until I got back around to
00:39Turn three and I was I was fine
00:41you know because just being a part of a cool finish like that is is fun and
00:45You know the 17 did a great job all day so to finish second of him
00:49I would have been cool with but to win it it feels better
00:51You didn't even know you won until you were coming around turn three
00:54How did you find out you won take me back to those moments just after the checkered flag?
00:58Yeah, I can't remember. I think maybe I asked if I got him like into turn one
01:02I thought initially I got him and then your cliff
01:05I think you know through timing and scoring he said it looked like the 17 you got us, so I was like okay
01:10You know cool good job today team whatever on the radio
01:12And it was kind of silent for a second and about the time I got turned three
01:15Yeah, my spotter was going crazy. We won. We won. We won. They said we won and so now I'm going crazy
01:22And then you're celebrating and then I see the 17 on the start finish line like oh, man
01:27like I hope I'm not celebrating and they just reverse the call or something, but
01:30Again either way I was I was excited just to you know be close like that
01:35Knowing how this race ended last year you coming in second and getting a little moved out of the way there on that final lap
01:41What is that on your mind at all when you were taking this final lap hoping for that win this year?
01:45No, I mean not really because the circumstances were different, but
01:50So no that wasn't on my mind at all just
01:52You know I have been close to winning a lot of races here, Kansas
01:55And it only won one to to this point, so I guess I would have been just bummed if I didn't you know get it
02:02Done, but at the same point like I think I was running fifth or sixth and the caution came out
02:07I was I was dying my right front tire was shredded, so
02:10And he finished better than sixth or seventh
02:13I was gonna be happy with but to get a win was just a cherry on top
02:16Well now getting this win second of the season what kind of position does that put this team in going into next week at Darlington
02:22Yeah, I mean it helps. You know we've been running really strong all year
02:25we've been you know a top three team from from the get-go and
02:30Just got to keep keep executing good weekends. We've been qualifying well practicing well racing good pit crews been performing at a high level so
02:38You know we have the points lead right now
02:40We've won a lot of stages could have won a couple more today if I just drove a little bit better
02:45And then yeah, so we were good on playoff points this point, but it's still a long time until the playoff starts
02:51So just really got to keep being consistent. You know the 19 Denny. Yeah, they're they're really consistent racecar drivers
02:57So trying to be on their level is very tough, but we've been doing a good job of it so far
03:02Well now it's it's officially May. This is a big month for you
03:05Not only are you racing plenty more NASCAR Cup Series races, but you're also taking on the Indy 500
03:10What confidence boost does that give you now with this win here today? Yeah? I mean, I don't know
03:13I don't I don't really think it gives me much confidence for the Indy car because it's so much different
03:18And and I don't I don't have any confidence in it yet because I don't have any experience in it yet, but
03:23Sure, I mean, I think you know if I was running 25th every cup race and would go into the Indy Indy car
03:30I would just probably not be that you know motivated and excited, but when you're when you're
03:36Performing at a high level in one of the cars. They're gonna be racing on that same day
03:40You know gives you some extra motivation and confidence like you know I got a good shot to win at least one of these things
03:45So yeah, I think I think because of that and how well our cup car is right now
03:50It definitely gives me more motivation, but you know confidence. I don't know
03:55Motivation confidence same thing right Kyle
03:57Congratulations on the win here today, Kansas. Thank you