Kyle Larson debunks misconception that ‘bugged him | Sports News

NASCAR Cup Series title hopeful and Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson is well-known for his outright love of racing as a complete. A full-time Cup Series driver, the 2021 champion has additionally tried to drag double responsibility with the Indy 500 twice, and owns two dash car collection by which he commonly competes.

Despite this, the 32-year-old lately took the time to debunk what seems to be a irritating misconception about his dedication to NASCAR, forward of the Championship race in Phoenix the place the percentages for all 4 drivers have emerged. 

“Something that’s bugged me throughout my whole career is that everybody just assumes I’m here for the money, and that’s not the case at all,” he instructed FOX Sports. “I would not be here if I did not want to be a NASCAR. I love the sport — I love what it provides, but I love what I’m doing.

“If I wanted to go race sprint cars full-time, I would have done that a long time ago. Even (crew chief) Cliff [Daniel], he asks me all the time, ‘How long do you think you’re gonna do this?’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t know, a long time.’ So I’m happy doing what I’m doing. And I’ve always been happy being in NASCAR. I’ve been in it for 12 something years.”

This gave the impression to be an alternative for Larson to get a long-standing frustration off his chest, including that he would merely stroll away if he wasn’t having fun with the Cup Series. In truth, he identified that he might have carried out simply that in 2020, following his suspension by the group for the use of a racial slur during a racing reside stream.

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“For me, I get to compete in NASCAR, and I love doing that. And I also get to compete in 30 to 40 sprint car races a year,” he mentioned.

“So I feel like it’s a great balance for me. I get to compete in a lot of the big races, the races that mean a lot to me and compete in every big race in NASCAR, and get to compete for a championship every year for the best team. So why would I ever give that up?”

Competing for a championship is precisely what Larson will likely be doing at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, when he takes on teammate William Byron, and the Joe Gibbs Racing duo of Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe within the ultimate 4, with the main driver of the pack taking the spoils.

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For Hamlin, Briscoe, and Byron, this represents an alternative to win their first championships. As for Larson, he might turn out to be the eighth two-time champion and the 18th multiple-time champion.

For Larson, successful a second title in 2025 could finish up that means more than his first, which he did in dominant fashion, claiming 10 victories in 2021 – together with 4 of the final 5.

“I think this year has felt so different for us and the 5 team,” he admitted. “It’s been more challenging than any other year that we’ve been together as a team, and…that’s what will make it feel equally as good or just as good in a different way.”

Larson’s 2025 season has been full of peaks and troughs, successful three of the primary 12 races earlier than crashing out of each the Indy 500 and the next Coca-Cola 600, since when he has but to return to victory lane, and has canceled his deliberate Supercars Championship enterprise.

While on the verge of one other championship, he nonetheless has a long approach to go if he’s to ever crack the highest 10 all-time wins listing. Currently, Hamlin and Kevin Harvick are tied in tenth on 60 wins, with Larson a methods back on 32. But so far as Larson is worried, there may be no rush to succeed in no matter whole win purpose he decides to chase.

“For me right now, I’m still so young, I don’t feel like I’m anywhere close to the end,” he mentioned. “So for Denny. I think it’s easier for him to pick 60 as his number that he wanted to get to because he’s much closer to the end than I am.

“I’m just going to try and do the best job I can. And wherever those numbers end up, they end up. And as I approach the end of my career, we’ll see what that end number might look like. Right now, I don’t really put a whole lot of focus on that. I’m just trying to do a great job and get back to victory lane.”