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WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 01: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet looks on prior to practice for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 01, 2025 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Kyle Larson controlled nearly the entire Hangtown 100 at Placerville Speedway in California. The race covered 100 laps on a tight dirt surface. He started fast and stayed out front. His pace looked steady and confident.
Everything changed on the final lap when the race took a dramatic turn. The scene shifted from routine dominance to a major crash that brought the crowd to silence.
Kyle Larson’s Final Lap Crash
Daison Pursley closed in as the checkered flag approached. He tried a slide job in turn four. He entered low and aimed to move ahead. He struck the inside berm and lost control. His car bounced into Kyle Larson, which sent Larson flipping through the air. Pursley crossed the line first and earned the $20,000 prize.
“With five laps to go, Larson entered Turns 1 and 2 in the high lane, while runner-up Daison Pursley fired his No. 86 car down into the inside line. As he attempted to pull off a slide job for the race lead, the move turned out to be quite the misjudgment, as reported by Tobbie Christie.”
With five laps to go, Kyle Larson was the latest to go tumbling at Placerville after making contact with Daison Pursley. Pursley would go on to win. pic.twitter.com/jB1CzN7CA8
— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) November 16, 2025
“Four 360° spins in the air later, Larson’s car came to a halt as it flipped on its side, bringing the race to a halt. Larson climbed out of his car uninjured and took a moment to sarcastically clap at Pursely and show him a double thumbs up before he was driven off the track, according to Naman Srivastava of Profootballnetwork.com.”
USAC reviewed the incident and called it a racing incident. No penalty was issued. The call matched the available video and radio information.
Hangtown 100 Context and Driver Field
Larson grew up racing dirt and often returns during the NASCAR offseason. The Hangtown 100 brings a strong driver lineup from USAC and beyond. The event helps drivers keep reaction timing sharp.
Dirt midgets require constant steering input and fast decision-making. Larson led most laps and showed a strong pace before the wreck. His speed was consistent. The finish did not match his effort, but the performance gave clear proof of his comfort in this type of racing.
The race also showed how tight dirt racing becomes in traffic. One small error or bump decides the outcome. There is no margin in the corners. Drivers trust instincts and race inches apart from each other.
Larson’s 2025 NASCAR Season
Kyle Larson’s 2025 season with the No. 5 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports came together the way every driver hopes. He made his way through the playoffs round by round by staying fast and staying smart. He grabbed a win at Watkins Glen in the Round of 16 and later locked himself into the Championship 4 with a strong run and victory at Homestead-Miami.
The title race at Phoenix brought pressure, late cautions, and nerves. A final restart decided everything. Larson hit it perfectly and held off the field to clinch the championship.
His win gave Hendrick Motorsports its 15th Cup title. Larson led 1,106 laps and averaged a 13.2 finish. The season mixed his dirt racing style with sharp stock car discipline and proved he belongs at the top.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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