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Larson: “I used Johnson up a little bit" to take second in All-Star Race

The good news was Kyle Larson was gaining on the leader but the bad news was he was out of time.

Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Images

Larson made a dramatic pass of Jimmie Johnson on the last lap of Saturday night’s Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race to move into second-place, which sent a loud roar out of the grandstands.

Second, however, was the best Larson could get as he had no time to reel in Kyle Busch, who won the race and its $1 million top prize at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Larson came down pit road the leader during the caution before the final, 10-lap segment but lined up fifth on the restart. Brad Keselowski elected not to pit and stayed out and three teams beat Larson off pit road.

“That was the difference there. We just didn’t have it there at the end,” Larson said. “We had the best car out there for sure. Even in traffic, I thought I was really good. I just needed to get the top (lane) going there and about a 20-lap run.

“I thought we had it most of the race but that’s how racing goes. Sometimes it works out for you; sometimes it doesn’t.”

Larson said he was told after the race that his team had a jack bolt break in the race, which slowed his pit crew’s work on pit road.

“I don’t want to take anything away from my pit crew because they’ve been amazing. They’ve been the best pit crew throughout the first quarter of the season, which is spectacular,” he said.

Last-lap move

Larson’s move on Johnson on the final lap didn’t please Johnson, who gestured wildly toward Larson on the cool-down lap.

Larson, however, said he didn’t want to take any chances even if it looked like Busch was going to win.

“I wanted to be aggressive and try to pass Jimmie because you never know what’s going to happen if (Busch) blows a tire or blows an engine or something,” he said. “I just wanted to everything I could to get every position I could.

“I used Jimmie up a little bit but – hey – it’s the all-star race and no points on the line, just a lot of money. That was a fun last 10 laps and I was just mad we weren’t in the lead starting it.”

Larson said he is looking forward to next weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, even though he feels like he has struggled in the race.

In three starts in the race, his best finish of 13th came last season.

“Come next week, there is so much more rubber on race track and I’ve haven’t been the best at adjusting to that,” Larson said. “I feel like our team is really smart now and we can make the right adjustments.”

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