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Kyle Larson takes down Xfinity Series field at Texas, wins while filling in for Connor Zilisch

JHby:Jonathan Howard•about 13 hours•

Jondean25

Kyle Larson Texas Xfinity win
Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Don’t worry, Connor Zilisch! You’ve got the best in the business filling in for you, and he just put your car in victory lane. What a win for Kyle Larson in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The Hendrick Motorsports driver led 32 laps on the day and, most importantly, led the last lap.

Multiple overtimes for the second race of the weekend. Will the Cup Series have the same thing tomorrow?

Sam Mayer got wiggled around on the restart by Taylor Gray. That gave Kyle Larson enough momentum on the outside to take the lead and put this win away.

Three times this season, Kyle Larson has raced in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Two times, he has won. To be honest, he should be three for three. If it hadn’t been for that finish at Homestead-Miami with Sam Mayer, he would have three.

Speaking of Mayer, he was leading in overtime. Larson was on his outside. Coming out of the restart zone and into Turn 1, Taylor Gray gave a little more than a push to Mayer. That led the 41 car to wiggle and get loose, slow up, and the rest is history.

If you’re going to beat Kyle Larson in the Xfinity Series, you have to be perfect. Mayer wasn’t, and neither was anyone else in the field. So, Larson takes another trophy from the Xfinity regulars.

Kyle Larson subs in for Connor Zilisch, gets the win

It isn’t every day that you see a substitute driver win a race. That is exactly what Kyle Larson did today. He wasn’t supposed to be in this race, but with Connor Zilisch healing a minor back injury, Larson got the call mid-week.

“Thanks to JRM for letting me come run this thing here today. You know, obviously wish Connor was in the car, but means a lot that they thought of me to call up to run this thing,” Larson said after the win.

JR Motorsports wanted someone to come in and keep the 88 team afloat in the owners points. Zilisch will lose points in the drivers standings, but this team doesn’t have to take a hit. While these races have been a bit sloppy, at least we have seen drivers challenged from start to finish and actual passes happening.

Then again, Xfinity and Truck usually have an easier time passing. So, we will wait and see what happens tomorrow in the Cup Series race. Kyle Larson will try to round out the weekend with another win.