Kyle Larson achieved three significant milestones at Atlanta Motor Speedway, marking a turning point in his performance at drafting-style tracks.

For the first time, Larson won a stage at a drafting-style racetrack, completing the second stage successfully. He also finished the race - a notable achievement considering he had failed to finish in five of his last six Atlanta races since its conversion to a drafting track. His third-place finish marked his best result at the reconfigured Atlanta track.

Leading at the white flag, Larson engaged in an intense battle with Christopher Bell and Carson Hocevar in the final moments. The three-wide situation in Turn 3 ultimately resulted in Larson finishing third when the caution flag flew on the final lap.

This performance follows Larson's frustration at the Daytona 500, where he has yet to secure a top-five finish in 22 starts. His superspeedway record includes just two top-five finishes in 20 starts at Talladega Superspeedway.

Larson emphasized that Atlanta's layout differs significantly from Daytona and Talladega, noting that handling plays a more crucial role here. "All of us are in more control here," Larson explained. "So, it's more fun. Daytona and Talladega suck. Like, they suck."

The result demonstrates Larson's improving ability to navigate drafting-style tracks, though he maintains that Atlanta's unique characteristics set it apart from traditional superspeedways.

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