[h=2]Larson on extra scrutiny: That's a compliment[/h] Sunday, 16 July 2017


By Kelly Crandall / Image by Nigel Kinrade/LAT

Kyle Larson finished second for the second consecutive week after having to start at the rear of the field.
Charging hard inside the final 35 laps of the Overton's 301, Larson was unable to close the gap on eventual winner Denny Hamlin. It was a simple matter of running out of time, and Larson felt the closer he got to Hamlin the less he could carry the speed on the exit of the corner as he needed to.
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But overall, it was yet another hard-fought performance for Larson and the No. 42 team.
In New Hampshire, Larson's team had its pole-winning time disallowed after the car failed post-qualifying inspection. NASCAR found the rear deck fin had been adjusted – it was lowered – after pre-qualifying inspection, and Larson started last on the grid.

"I think with how fast we've been running and all that, NASCAR has kept a closer eye on our team in particular," Larson said Sunday. "What was going on with the shark fin wasn't anything different really than the other teams tinker with, just trying to maximize their aero performance in their cars.
"We just got in trouble for that, so had to go to the back. Obviously, I don't think it really affected us, which is a good thing, because the little stuff that we got in trouble for so far hasn't seemed to affect the performance. Just got to keep working hard on the areas of our racecar that are legal and find some more speed that way."
The starting grid penalty came just two days after Chip Ganassi Racing was issued an L1-level penalty for a post-Kentucky infraction. Larson was without crew chief Chad Johnston in New Hampshire and will be for the next two weeks as he serves a three-race suspension.
Larson also lost the point lead because NASCAR docked the team 35 points. With his finish at New Hampshire, Larson remains second in points to Martin Truex Jr., now 38 markers behind.
When asked if it felt like he and his team had a target on their backs given everything that has happened lately, Larson said "for sure." But he takes it as a good thing.
"It means everybody is paying attention to us," Larson said. "This is my fourth year, and I've never been in the position to where NASCAR and other teams are paying so much attention to our racecar.
"That's a compliment to everyone at our race shop."