FORT WORTH, TEXAS – MAY 02: Kyle Larson, driver of the #88 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 340 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 02, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio

FORT WORTH – Kyle Larson spent his Saturday afternoon schooling the field around Texas Motor Speedway en route to a closer-than-it-appeared victory in the 22^nd annual Andy’s Frozen Custard 340.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – MAY 02: Kyle Larson, driver of the #88 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 340 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 02, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

Larson scored his second consecutive NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victory in Cowtown and third overall at the expense of JR Motorsports teammate Justin Allgaier, who fell 0.293-seconds short of what would have been his first series win on TMS’ high-banked/1.5-mile oval.

The teammates scuffled for the lead even before the race went green after the day’s seventh and final caution flag fell on Lap 180 of the scheduled 200, bumping each other behind the Chevrolet Corvette pace car. This was after Larson’s pit crew had given the race leader four fresh Goodyear Eagle tires and fuel in 12.9-seconds. Allgaier’s crew did likewise but in 13.6-seconds, allowing Larson to retain critical track position with 17 laps remaining.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – MAY 02: Kyle Larson, driver of the #88 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 340 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 02, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

The two-time/reigning Cup Series champion from Hendrick Motorsports, Larson used every bit of his accumulated aero experience to retain the lead and secure his 19^th OAP victory.

“He (Allgaier) was way faster than me,” said Larson, driver of the No. 88 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. “I was trying to run as good a corner as I could but also take air away from him. It was tough. He was always coming at me with a big run. I’d get a few car-length gap…just got tight and entered (the corner) lower and tried to not make a mistake.

“It seems like he had way more grip than me. I didn’t think he would move me out of the way. In my mirror and adjusting the angles he was running the last couple of laps he was trying to pack air. I was surprised he wasn’t able to take the air off me. He never touched me, which I’m thankful for.”

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – MAY 02: Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 Roto-Rooter Chevrolet, leads the field during the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 340 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 02, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

Allgaier’s best last shot at victory occurred on Lap 195, when he closed to within 0.157-seconds of Larson’s rear bumper down the backstretch, explored the bottom lane, but decided he could not complete the pass. Allgaier, the 2024 series champion, cited track position as the missing ingredient.

“Disappointed,” said Allgaier, a 39-year-old native of Riverton, Ill., and driver of the No. 7 Roto-Rooter Chevrolet. “Without contact I didn’t think I could get around him. I’m going to watch this a bunch and try to figure out what I could have done better.”

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – MAY 02: Kyle Larson, driver of the #88 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, Sam Mayer, driver of the #41 Andy’s Frozen Custard 40th Anniversary Chevrolet, Brandon Jones, driver of the #20 Menards/Sylvania Toyota, and Parker Retzlaff, driver of the #99 Fentanyl Free America Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 340 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 02, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

Lap 105 in Stage 3 produced a three-wide moment among Allgaier, who was in the lead, Larson and Brent Crews of Joe Gibbs Racing. Racing for P1, Larson found himself momentarily sandwiched between the two. All traded paint at-speed before Larson squirted out into the lead. Larson led the event five times for a race-high 93 laps.

“I wasn’t scared, just committed at that point,” said Larson, a 33-year-old native of Elk Grove, Calif. “I’m sure one of us would crash. Somehow I came out clear. But I thought it was not going to be good.”

Sam Meyer, another former winner of this event, did right by his primary sponsor, finishing third in the No. 41 Andy’s Frozen Custard 40^th Anniversary Chevrolet fielded by Haas Factory Team. Parker Retzlaff finished fifth in the No. 99 Fentanyl Free America Chevrolet fielded by Viking Motorsports.

Teen-ager Crews placed fourth and termed his day “a blast.”

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – MAY 02: A general view of racing during the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 340 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 02, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

“I just want to thank the Good Lord for keeping us safe today,” said Crews, an 18-year-old resident of Davidson, N.C. “It’s a beautiful day today here in Texas. The Mobil 1 Toyota GR Supra was as fast as it could be. Some mistakes on my part learning green-flag stops and stuff but that comes with it.

“I had a blast and thankful to bring this team home some money. They deserve it with how hard they’ve been working in the shop. Congrats to Kyle and Justin. It was really fun getting to race some of the best guys in our sport.”

Crews exited Texas as winner of the Dash 4 Cash $100,000 bonus via his fourth-place result. He has recorded four consecutive top-five and six top-10 finishes in eight series starts.

Crews was asked what does an 18-year-old do with $100,000?

“That’s a great question,” Crews said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think my mom or my dad will let me do anything exciting so I’ll see what I can do.”

Carson Hocevar will attempt to win his third consecutive NASCAR race from pole position Sunday at TMS. NASCAR’s hottest driver qualified P1 for the Cup Series WURTH 400 presented by Liqui Moly via a flying lap of 28.222-seconds/191.340 mph on Saturday afternoon.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – MAY 02: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Spectrum Chevrolet, poses for photos after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY at Texas Motor Speedway on May 02, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

Hocevar will be joined on the front row by Spire Motorsports teammate Daniel Suarez, who covered TMS’ high-banked/1.5-mile oval in 28.225-seconds/191.320 mph. In other words, the teammates were separated by three-thousandths-of-a-second.

“I don’t know where those three-thousandths are,” said Hocevar, driver of the No. 77 Spectrum Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. “I’m just glad I had them in the bank. My lap felt pretty good. It wasn’t quite keying-up on the radio.

“I don’t remember who said it, but I remember watching TV of it and they’re like, ‘If they beat that, they can have it.’ Then they don’t get beat. I wasn’t quite doing that, but I was coming off Turn 4 and I was like, ‘Man, if this isn’t fast, I’m going to be so disappointed.’ But it felt good. That’s the worst, when it feels good and it’s slow. I’m just glad there was a lot of pace in it.”

Hocevar returned for a presser in the track’s infield media center after winning Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series SpeedyCash.com 250 in overtime. Last Sunday, Hocevar scored his first Cup Series victory on the daunting 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway.

Hocevar, who is paired in Cup with crew chief Luke Lambert, said the positive vibe created at Talladega definitely has carried over to Cowtown this weekend.

“I think internally, for sure. I think it establishes all of us that we’re all winners,” said Hocevar, a 23-year-old native of Portage, Mich. “Everybody’s just jollier, I guess. Everybody’s just kind of slower and more relaxed. I could just tell by the way they were pulling the hood pins and little things. They just have a lot of confidence.

“It’s not that often that I sit there and just go…’We’re 22nd in practice and I think we’re going to win the pole, as long as I don’t mess this up.’ Especially when I saw Daniel roll out, our cars are very similar. I thought we’d be really close. I didn’t expect it to be that close, but I’m just glad I was on the front end of it.”

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – MAY 02: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Spectrum Chevrolet, races during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY at Texas Motor Speedway on May 02, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Hocevar’s pole is his second in 92 Cup Series starts, second in four races at TMS and second in a row at “The Great American Speedway.” Recall that Hocevar secured his first career Cup pole here last spring with lap in 28.175-seconds/191.659 mph.

Hocevar said he assumes his setup data is similar to that shared with teammate/native of Mexico Suarez and his No. 7 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet and teammate Michael McDowell’s No. 71 Modo Casino Chevy.

“Sometimes I ask them, ‘Are we similar?’^” Hocevar said. “They normally go, ‘Yeah.’ I’m like, ‘OK.’ That’s my data. I think all three of us are very similar. I’m assuming the No. 7 is similar. It would be hilarious if they’re so different and it’s three-thousandths different.”

Former Prosper, Texas, resident Chris Buscher will start third after lapping at 190.981 mph in the No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford Mustang fielded by Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. Denny Hamlin will start fourth in the No. 11 Progressive Insurance Toyota Camry fielded by Joe Gibbs Racing after a lap of 190.786 mph.

Tyler Reddick – winner of five of 10 races to-date – will start eighth after lapping at 190.416 mph in the No. 45 Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota fielded by 23XI Racing.

Scheduled for 267 laps/400.5-miles, the race will be televised on FS1 beginning at 2:30 p.m. (CDT) with radio coverage on PRN an SiriusXM.

Interview: NCS Pole Winner Carson Hocevar No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet –

Interview: Carson Hocevar – No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet –

Newly minted NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks will serve as Honorary Pace Car Driver for the WÜRTH 400. Flagg will experience his first NASCAR Cup Series race from the best seat on the planet _ the cockpit of a 2026 Chevrolet Corvette pacing the field to the green flag.

“Being asked to drive the Official Pace Car at Texas Motor Speedway is such an honor,” said Flagg, a forward who was named 2025-26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year last Monday. “My mom and dad are both big NASCAR fans so we’re excited; this is going to be a special experience for our family.”

The 19-year-old former Duke Blue Devils star and No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Flagg led all rookies in scoring and joined Michael Jordan as the only rookies to lead their team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals in a season. In addition, Flagg is the second-youngest player to win the award, trailing only LeBron James.

Flagg also became the youngest player in NBA history to score over 50 points, recording 51 against the Orlando Magic on April 3, 2026.

Flagg received 56 first-place votes to finish with 412 points, narrowly beating Charlotte Hornets guard _ and former Duke teammate _ Kon Knueppel’s 386 points.