Kyle Larson celebrates after winning the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 NASCAR Xfinity race on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Texas Motor Speedway. Photo by Michael C. Johnson

By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio

FORT WORTH, Texas – Kyle Larson delivered a thrilling performance in Saturday’s Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway, capturing his 17th career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in a chaotic race that featured numerous cautions and lead changes, along with a dramatic double-overtime finish.

Kyle Larson takes the checkered flag to win the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 NASCAR Xfinity race on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Texas Motor Speedway. Photo by Michael C. Johnson

Subbing for the injured Connor Zilisch in the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, Larson started 20th and overcame multiple setbacks — including a pit road penalty for a tire violation — to take the lead in the final laps and secure a 1.265-second win over rookie Taylor Gray.

“There was a lot of survival I felt like throughout that race, just dodging some wrecks,” Larson said. “We had to work on the balance quite a bit. I felt like if I could ever get to the lead, I could stretch it out.”

Larson’s win marks his second Xfinity victory of the season, his second at Texas, and his first start at the 1.5-mile oval since 2017. He last won an Xfinity race at Texas back in 2016.

Kyle Larson celebrates by doing a burnout after winning the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 NASCAR Xfinity race on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Texas Motor Speedway. Photo by Michael C. Johnson

Larson appeared to have the race under control with a six-second lead and just 12 laps remaining when Corey Day spun into the inside tire barrier in Turn 3, bringing out the ninth caution of the day and wiping out Larson’s advantage.

That’s when crew chief Jason Lindley made the critical call to bring Larson down pit road for fresh tires. The gamble paid off.

On a Lap 194 restart, Larson lined up seventh, behind six cars that stayed out on older tires. He surged forward, took the lead from Sam Mayer on the second overtime restart in Turn 2, and never looked back.

Kyle Larson won the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 NASCAR Xfinity race on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Texas Motor Speedway. Photo by Michael C. Johnson

“Thanks to JRM for letting me come run this thing here today,” Larson said. “Obviously, I wish Connor was in the car, but it means a lot that they thought of me to call up. Had a lot of fun today and cool to get another win here.”

Taylor Gray, who finished second in the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, notched a career-best result in his 25th Xfinity start.

“I really tried to ruin our day the first half of the race just making dumb mistakes,” Gray said. “I’m really proud of my guys for coming back from those and having a good finish. It sucks finishing second because I wanted to get a win.”

Sam Mayer in the No. 41 Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 Ford at the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 NASCAR Xfinity race on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Texas Motor Speedway. Photo by Michael C. Johnson

Riley Herbst, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, came home third after restarting sixth in the final overtime, followed by Austin Hill and Sam Mayer, who had led during the overtime restart before being overtaken by Larson.

Mayer, the defending winner of the event, expressed disappointment after leading into the final restart only to settle for fifth.

“It just seems like I didn’t have any help there,” Mayer said. “So, us versus the world, I guess. That’s racing sometimes.”

Justin Allgaier was a dominant force early, winning Stage 1 and leading a race-high 99 laps, but his bid for victory ended after a collision with the lapped car of Kris Wright on Lap 156.

Justin Allgaier was knocked out of the race after a crash with Kris Wright on Lap 156 at the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 NASCAR Xfinity race on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Texas Motor Speedway. Photo by Michael C. Johnson

“We’d about gotten crashed a couple laps before,” Allgaier said. “He (Wright) was having a bit of a tough time, and I’m trying to catch back to the 88. Ultimately, I put myself in a bad position.”

Allgaier’s wreck left the door open for Larson and others, as the final stage became a high-stakes shuffle. Austin Hill claimed the win in Stage 2, which ended under caution following a spin by Kris Wright.

The race was marred by a record 11 cautions for 62 laps, with incidents involving 23 of the 38 cars in the field. Multiple multi-car wrecks thinned the competition early and often during the final stage of the race.

A general view of the racing action at the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 NASCAR Xfinity race on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Texas Motor Speedway. Photo by Michael C. Johnson

Among the casualties was Christian Eckes, who suffered engine failure on Lap 47, and Sheldon Creed, whose race ended after contact on Lap 103. Garrett Smithley, Katherine Legge, Mason Massey, Anthony Alfredo, and others were involved in a major pile-up after driving through the grass on the front stretch during the final stage.

Nick Sanchez, who ran strong in the top five for most of the day, was one of the final victims of the day’s attrition. He hit the wall during the second overtime and fell to 20th.

“I am pretty disappointed,” Sanchez said. “I was just going for it, and that’s what you have to do at the end of these races. I pushed over the edge and paid the price.”

The top 10 finishers included Harrison Burton (6th), Jesse Love (7th), Ryan Sieg (8th), Brandon Jones (9th), and Jeb Burton (10th).

Photo gallery: Click here.

Interview:

NXS Race Winner Kyle Larson (No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet) –

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Andy’s Frozen Custard 300

Texas Motor Speedway

Fort Worth, Texas

Saturday, May 3, 2025

                1. (20)  Kyle Larson(i), Chevrolet, 208.

                2. (12)  Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 208.

                3. (27)  Riley Herbst(i), Toyota, 208.

                4. (1)  Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 208.

                5. (7)  Sam Mayer, Ford, 208.

                6. (5)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 208.

                7. (3)  Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 208.

                8. (31)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, 208.

                9. (21)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 208.

                10. (4)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 208.

                11. (9)  Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 208.

                12. (10)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 208.

                13. (35)  William Sawalich #, Toyota, 208.

                14. (34)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 208.

                15. (8)  Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, 208.

                16. (33)  Corey Day, Chevrolet, 208.

                17. (18)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 208.

                18. (22)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 208.

                19. (13)  Carson Kvapil #, Chevrolet, 208.

                20. (14)  Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, 208.

                21. (32)  Mason Massey, Chevrolet, 207.

                22. (26)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 207.

                23. (19)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 207.

                24. (11)  Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 207.

                25. (37)  Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 207.

                26. (28)  Mason Maggio, Ford, 207.

                27. (16)  Dean Thompson #, Toyota, 205.

                28. (24)  Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 205.

                29. (15)  Nick Leitz, Chevrolet, 204.

                30. (38)  Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 201.

                31. (25)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, Accident, 200.

                32. (36)  Katherine Legge(i), Chevrolet, 200.

                33. (30)  Kris Wright, Chevrolet, 199.

                34. (17)  Leland Honeyman, Chevrolet, Vibration, 165.

                35. (2)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, Accident, 155.

                36. (6)  Sheldon Creed, Ford, Accident, 104.

                37. (29)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, Accident, 97.

                38. (23)  Christian Eckes #, Chevrolet, Engine, 47.

Average Speed of Race Winner:  106.424 mph.

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 55 Mins, 54 Secs. Margin of Victory:  1.265 Seconds.

Caution Flags:  11 for 62 laps.

Lead Changes:  12 among 6 drivers.

Lap Leaders:   J. Allgaier 1-24;A. Hill 25;J. Allgaier 26-49;A. Hill 50-102;J. Allgaier 103-153;S. Mayer 154-158;D. Dye # 159;K. Larson(i) 160-189;A. Hill 190-192;N. Sanchez # 193;S. Mayer 194-206;K. Larson(i) 207-208.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Justin Allgaier 3 times for 99 laps; Austin Hill 3 times for 57 laps; Kyle Larson(i) 2 times for 32 laps; Sam Mayer 2 times for 18 laps; Nick Sanchez # 1 time for 1 lap; Daniel Dye # 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 7,88,48,21,41,00,39,20,27,42

Stage #2 Top Ten: 21,7,00,48,41,19,2,17,20,54