Noah Gragson breaks down blame in Kyle Larson taking out Austin Cindric, William Byron

Austin Cindric had run an excellent race once again and was looking to perhaps put the finishing touch on things at Atlanta when it all went wrong, courtesy of a come-together with Kyle Larson.

Larson was out in front protecting the lead when he made enough contact with Cindric’s front bumper that the driver of the No. 2 collided with the outside wall.

Moments later, Cindric and fellow driver William Byron were spinning on the track, clearing the way for Larson to race free.

“He’s been on the other side of things with Denny (Hamlin) at Pocono, right? And other races,” Noah Gragson said in evaluating the Larson contact on the Door Bumper Clear podcast. “But the way I saw it is the 5 was, it’s obviously four laps to go, so he’s trying to clear himself up and make something that’s not there. But if he gets clear and he gets a shove he probably wins the race.”

Kyle Larson came through clear and had a chance at the win. It wouldn’t pan out for him. He’d finish P3 under caution during overtime.

Gragson continued to break down the contact on the run-in with Kyle Larson, which you can view below.

THE LEADERS MAKE CONTACT! pic.twitter.com/RQHILXHkvT

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 23, 2025

“I think the 2 bounces off the wall as well, the 24 is tight,” Gragson said. “Even if the 2 runs right up against the wall on exit and doesn’t come down that half car width, they’re probably side by side and door banging off the corner. But with the 2 bouncing off the wall and coming back down right there I think it’s just a misjudgment on both sides there.”

Byron certainly got too comfortable going up into the outside lane on the corner, right where Cindric was coming down. Both cars spun out as a result of the contact.

For Gragson, there really wasn’t much nefarious in it, though, despite Kyle Larson’s contact with Cindric.

“Had that been Lap 40, yeah, there’s no excuse,” Gragson said. “But with it being the end of the race I get every side of things. Guys aren’t willing to lift.”

As for the contact, there’s little doubt to Gragson about the role Kyle Larson played in the wreck.

“He definitely fenced the 2,” Gragson said, before adding: “I think it’s racing.”