Gibbs passes Larson late, wins Xfinity race at Road America

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (AP) — Ty Gibbs already has won plenty in his young racing career, but the level of competition made the 19-year-old’s latest victory particularly special.

Gibbs overtook NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson on the final lap of overtime Saturday at Road America for his fourth Xfinity Series victory of the season.

“To be able to beat him is just awesome," Gibbs said. ”It’s a dream come true."

The race featured a major wreck that impacted about a third of the 38-car field.

Larson, competing in an Xfinity Series event for the first time since 2018, was leading when Cole Custer’s brake failure resulted in a late caution flag that produced overtime.

Gibbs, the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, chased Larson for much of the overtime session, passed him early in the final lap and remained in front the rest of the way for his third career road-course win. Gibbs’ winning margin was 0.858 seconds.

This winning charge was the latest step forward for Gibbs as he tries to learn what's necessary to live up to his lofty long-term ambitions, which go well beyond making it to the Cup Series..

“I want to be the best driver ever,” Gibbs said. “That’s what it takes. I’ve got to learn that to make another step to the top of the mountain.”

Larson had decided to enter the Xfinity event to get more experience at Road America. He won the first two stages and was ahead for most of the race but couldn’t maintain the lead in that final lap.

“He did a really good job executing, and I didn’t,” Larson said.

Josh Berry finished third, Austin Hill fourth and Brandon Jones fifth.

The race was in its 25th of 45 laps when contact between Noah Gragson and Sage Karam started a wreck that involved 13 cars.

Gragson and Karam already had