Kyle Larson reacts to violent collision with outside wall in playoff opener at Atlanta

Kyle Larson is out of Sunday’s Quaker State 400 at Atlanta after making violent contact with the outside wall in Turn 2 on Lap 55.

Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet shot right and pounded the outside wall after he cut a right front tire. He told NBC Sports after being released from the infield care center that he wasn’t sure initially what caused the wreck.

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HUGE WRECK FOR KYLE LARSON AND CHASE BRISCOE!

Both #NASCARPlayoffs contenders are out before the end of Stage 1. pic.twitter.com/UJsGpF097O

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 8, 2024

“I’m OK,” Larson said. “Thankfully everything held up well inside the car. That was a huge hit. Not really sure what caused it. I was actually sort of like tight loaded into the corner and then I was pretty far around the corner, and it stepped out. It just all happened really fast.”

Larson came into Sunday’s playoff opener as the No. 1 seed with 35 playoff points to his name. But when you tally a DNF and early in the race at that, that advantage starts to go away. Last time he came into the postseason as the No. 1 seed, he won the Cup Series championship (2021).

Kyle Larson, Chase Briscoe exit early at Atlanta

Based on Larson’s pedigree as a driver, odds are he rebounds next week at Watkins Glen. As for Chase Briscoe, his playoff outlook now looks even bleaker. After Larson made contact with the outside wall, Briscoe slammed into the back of him.

Briscoe, running inside the top-15, tried to slow up and avoid Larson, but misjudged the situation.

“We were running 10th or 12th and the 5 got really loose, hit the fence and I saw him coming down the track and was trying to slow down and slide left,” Briscoe said. “He slid farther than I anticipated, so I tried going right and just KO’d him.”

Briscoe raced his way into the playoffs courtesy of his victory at Darlington last Sunday and will likely need to find Victory Lane at Watkins Glen or Bristol to advance to the Round of 12.