Kyle Larson tweeted that he will not compete in either a midget or sprint car race Wednesday night at Placerville (California) Speedway because “my body is still too sore to compete” after his accident in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway.
Larson’s car had heavy contact with the SAFER barrier in that event. He said his left-rear tire was cut, and it forced him into the outside wall along the backstretch on Lap 48. His car then turned toward the inside wall and had no brakes. The head-on impact lifted Larson’s car and spun it around before it came to a stop.
“That was definitely probably the hardest hit I’ve ever had in my career,” Larson said after the incident.
Placerville Speedway is where the California native scored his first career sprint car victory.
Larson noted in his tweet to fans it was best to let his body mend but stated: “It kills me to make this decision because I’ve been looking forward to this race for months now.”
Wednesday’s event was the first of the season for the track, featuring “Brad Sweet Presents the Placerville Short Track Outlaw Showdown.” The World of Outlaws and USAC Western States midgets are scheduled to compete. Larson, whose girlfriend, Katelyn, is Sweet’s sister, was to compete in both races.
