Ricky Craven 'passing the torch' after Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher break record for closest NASCAR finish ever

Last night, Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher went 1-2 during the closest finish in NASCAR history, just 0.001 seconds separated them at the line. Heartbreak for Buescher, elation for Larson. Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch have now passed the torch to the new generation.

The Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch finish at Darlington in 2003 will always be an important piece of NASCAR history. Now, the Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher finish at Kansas will be as well. Between Atlanta and Kansas, this season has put on a couple of all-time finishes.

NASCAR is a sport of tradition and record-breaking. It is special to see Craven send a message to Larson and Buescher congratulating them on being a part of history. Buescher might not like it too much now, but when he and Larson are giving the command at Kansas in 30 years, he will be able to laugh and enjoy it.

“Passing the Torch [sic] to [Kyle Larson] & [Chris Buescher],” Craven wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Congratulations guys! Hell of a race. [Kurt Busch] we had a couple decades of celebration/reunion – that won’t end! Most importantly – You’ve become a ‘Good Friend Brother.’ Yesterday, Everyone in our Sport Won [sic].”

Passing the Torch to @KyleLarsonRacin & @Chris_Buescher @NASCAR
Congratulations Guys!
Hell of a Race@KurtBusch we had a couple decades of celebration/reunion – that won’t end!
Most importantly – You’ve become a “Good Friend Brother” 🏁
Yesterday, Everyone in our Sport Won🏁

— Ricky Craven (@RickyCraven32) May 6, 2024

From the start of this race, it was nothing but action. Drivers were making passes, crossing each other over, they even went five-wide over the start-finish line at one point during this race. Plenty of three-wide racing and other exciting moments.

Through the first two stages, the only complaint would have been there weren’t enough caution flags. It was a lot of green flag racing. However, the final stage of the race handled that part well. It even set these drivers up on differing pit strategies, adding to the excitement.

When part of the field just goes to grab fuel, others get two tires, then another group gets four and a few more decide to just stay out – that sets up epic finishes in races like this.

Kyle Larson gets the win by a diffuser

Looking at the finish line photo, it is clear that it was a matter of holding the gas pedal down and hoping for the best. Kyle Larson ended up coming out on the winning side of things this time around.

Perhaps there is something about being on the high side of the track that allows you to get these wins? Ricky Craven won his race over Kurt Busch on the low side. However, this season alone, Daniel Suárez, Kyle Larson, and Xfinity Series driver Sam Mayer have all won races by 0.002 seconds or less on the high side of the track closer to the wall than their opponents.

Larson’s diffuser was able to cross that line, just the nose of the car, before Buescher was able to get his to the line. Truly one of the most remarkable finishes in NASCAR and in all of motorsports. To have Larson come out on top of it adds to the history of the moment.

The month of May opens for Kyle Larson with a win. He has Darlington, North Wilkesboro, Charlotte, and of course, the Indy 500, coming up on his schedule. Depending on how well Larson does in those races, this Kansas race could be the warning to the rest of the Cup Series.