Like a Phoenix Rising from the Ashes: Kyle Larson will be 2018’s Martin Truex Jr.

After his engine failure at Kansas and subsequent devastating elimination from the 2017 NASCAR playoffs, Kyle Larson could barely find the words to explain how he felt. He explained, "I keep saying everything sucks. I don't really know how to answer these (questions) because it's the same answer for every question.” Larson looked to be one of the few drivers who could go into Homestead and defeat Regular Season champion Martin Truex Jr. As 2017’s surprise elimination, Larson won’t have that chance.

One may remember the surprise elimination from 2016’s playoffs. After winning four races, including two of five playoff races, Truex Jr. blew a motor on lap 41 at Talladega, eliminating him from what looked to be a deep playoff run. Truex Jr. didn’t wallow in the disappointment, but came into 2017 and dominated. The 78 Furniture Row team has won seven races (so far), including half of the six playoff races to date! With Larson out, and likely only Kyle Busch left in his way, Truex Jr. may be on his way to his first MENCS championship.

Back to Larson.

Larson has four wins in 2017 thus far, with eight (!) second place finishes and 14 top 5 finishes. Those are not results Larson or his fans should hang their heads over. While it’s disappointing that Larson won’t be competing for a championship at Homestead, he still had a breakout season in 2017.

2018 will be more exciting for Larson and his fans. If he can even turn half of those 2017 second place finishes into victories, he will have number as dominant as Truex Jr. in 2017. He will do just that, and prove why he is a driver that will compete for championships for many years. Larson is 25, and has plenty of victories ahead of him. He has learned to win, and now, in consecutive years, he has learned to lose.

Larson and the Chip Ganassi Racing team have been the only team able to consistently keep up with the speed of the Toyota camp. There is nothing to suggest that there will be a significant fall-off for 2018. Truex Jr. used the heartbreak of an early playoff exit in 2016 to dominate in 2017, and look for Larson to do the same. It’s clear they have the equipment, the speed, and the personnel to compete with the elite teams in the series.

Larson will fix his mistakes and get more wins. At the two Dover races this season Larson lead a combined 378 laps while finishing 2nd and 5th respectively. He will convert one of those races into a victory. Larson finished 2nd at Loudon both times the MENCS took a trip to New Hampshire. He’s going find himself holding the lobster in at least one of the two NHMS races next season. The 42 team may pull off another surprise short track victory, a la Richmond, but they should definitely continue their dominance at the 2-mile tracks and scoop up a couple victories at Fontana and Michigan. Truex Jr. can’t dominate mile-and-a-half tracks forever. Larson was runner up at four 1.5 mile tracks in 2017. He will win at one or two of them next season.

Look for it all to start in the fourth race of the season, at Phoenix, a symbol of Larson rising from the ashes of his blown Kansas engine to start his dominant run.

When the 2018 regular season finishes up, Kyle Larson will have six victories and will grab those 15 playoff points as the Regular Season Champion. Like it or not, Larson will be next year’s Martin Truex Jr.

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