Kyle Larson’s special Kyle Busch tribute scheme at Las Vegas already carried plenty of meaning before the green flag ever fell. By the end of the race, it had the battle scars to match.
Larson drove the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet in a throwback scheme based on Kyle Busch’s 2007 Hendrick Motorsports No. 5, the car Busch took to Victory Lane in the first-ever Car of Tomorrow race at Bristol. Larson even carried the “Tiny Kyle” nickname above the door — a nod to the nickname Busch had given him during their years racing against each other.
The Las Vegas race turned into one of Larson’s toughest drives of the 2026 Chase. After qualifying sixth, the No. 5 struggled early and dropped outside the top 10. A major chassis adjustment during a 26-second green-flag pit stop cost Larson a lap and sent him deep into the field, but the Hendrick Motorsports team kept working on the car and Larson steadily charged his way back toward the front.
By the closing laps, Larson had somehow worked his way all the way to second place and was hunting down race leader Chase Briscoe.
Then came the “Checkers or Wreckers” moment.
On the final lap, Larson pushed the No. 5 to the limit while trying to run down Briscoe. He got loose in Turns 3 and 4, overcorrected, and slammed the outside wall. Tyler Reddick then piled into the damaged No. 5 before shooting through the infield grass. Somehow, Larson kept the heavily damaged tribute car moving and crossed the finish line second, just 1.376 seconds behind Briscoe.
Larson later said he wished he could have won in the special paint scheme honoring Busch, a Las Vegas native, but his incredible comeback and battered second-place finish made the tribute car one of the most memorable machines of the weekend.
Now Lionel Racing is recreating that unforgettable No. 5 as a Checkers or Wreckers Raced Version, capturing the heavy race damage and markings from Larson’s all-out final-lap attempt at the win.
Expect this one to be a particularly dramatic raced-version collectible, with the real car finishing the race with significant right-side damage after the wall contact and collision with Reddick.
This is a Lionel Elite Series diecast collectible car.
ELITE FEATURES INCLUDE:
All diecast body and chassis; opening hood, trunk, and roof flaps; serialized DIN (diecast identification number); detailed deco body; painted chassis detail; posable wheels; fabric window net; driver side mirror; detailed Elite Chassis; detailed engine compartment; and more!
Due in Spring 2027. You will not be charged until your car is in stock & ready to ship.
