DARLINGTON, S.C. — Kyle Larson is doing what he so often does best this weekend at Darlington Raceway — stepping into the spotlight and immediately becoming the driver to beat.
With Alex Bowman sidelined due to vertigo, Larson will pull double duty, competing in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race before turning his attention to Sunday’s Cup event. If recent history is any indication, that’s a dangerous combination for the rest of the field.
Larson enters Darlington fresh off a victory in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last week, where he showcased the same car control and racecraft that have made him one of the most versatile and respected drivers in motorsports. Whether it’s managing tire wear, finding grip inches from the wall, or slicing through traffic, Larson continues to prove he can win in anything, anywhere.
Darlington, with its narrow groove and unforgiving “Lady in Black” reputation, plays directly into Larson’s strengths. Few drivers are as comfortable riding the edge for 200 laps, and fewer still can turn that aggression into consistent speed. It’s why, even stepping into a substitute role, Larson is widely viewed as a favorite to contend — if not win outright — in the O’Reilly event.
That same expectation carries into Sunday. Despite not visiting Victory Lane in the Cup Series since May of last year, Larson remains a weekly threat. His speed has rarely been in question; execution and late-race circumstances have been the only things standing between him and multiple wins over that stretch.
Still, Darlington has a way of rewarding elite talent, and Larson fits that mold as well as anyone in the garage. If the weekend unfolds as many expect, it could be another reminder that when Larson straps into a race car — regardless of the series — the outcome often runs through him.
