10
And I got to attend. Wow. A once in a lifetime scenario. So blessed right now. If that's the best NASCAR race I attend in my whole damn life I will die a happy man. So much passing and straight up RACING for the lead in the first stage. 10+ lead changes, iirc. The start of the final stage stage brought the crazies and a quick burst of strategy. Strategy absolutely mattered in this race, I feel that may quickly be forgotten in this instant classic. And Kyle's spin as a top runner... already a kinda bizarre plot twist. But I did not wake up today expecting to see Buescher pinch Larson that close to the wall. That in its self was beautiful. Anything beyond that was extra. Then I saw the run of the cars behind.
And they were four wide at the line. I knew it was close. I thought it was Larson. I was sitting behind the start finish line though. I didn't realize how close it was. My scanner was on. 17 was top of the pylon. But MRN was saying wait. But the pylon wasn't changing. I turn to the crowd behind me to vent my emotion "Larson! Wait... they're saying it's Larson!!". And there was that limbo. A limbo that felt far beyond how these things feel when watching on TV. I thought that maybe it was just the adrenaline. Or... frankly... too much beer on an extra long day? But then, the crowd was erupting, the pylon changed, and MRN began saying... a phrase that hit me and bounced off my brain "the closest finish in NASCAR history". To be here. On this day. In Kansas. On what is.... honestly..... a great stopover on a trip to chase watching the Indianapolis 500 3 weeks from now. Well. Damn. I just saw history. And not a fluke finish... a great, great, perhaps all-time race.... start to finish. And I got to see it. Yes.