NASCAR driver Kyle Larson has found himself under criticism following his performance at the Homestead-Miami Speedway race, where his aggressive driving has been called into question.
Representing Hendrick Motorsports, Larson’s recent driving has sparked a debate, particularly after the blunt critique from former NASCAR champion Kyle Petty. Larson’s actions during the Miami race, described as “stupid decisions,” have been called into question.
Kyle Larson has established himself as a versatile driver, with a successful career across various racing formats, including stock car, dirt sprint car, late model, and IndyCar racing. His achievements were highlighted during his debut season in the Indianapolis 500, where he managed to secure the title of rookie of the year, finishing 18th. However, his performance could have been better had it not been marred by errors, including a speeding penalty.
These errors didn’t just affect his Indy 500 performance but also impacted his NASCAR season, as unfavorable weather conditions prevented him from participating in the Coca Cola 600, eventually costing him the regular season championship by one point to Tyler Reddick
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Amidst the critique, HMS Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon has not shied away from defending Larson’s career and skills. On the Happy Hour podcast, Gordon expressed admiration for the driver.
“He blew everybody away this year. I’ve always been impressed with his talent, and it’s because he’s so versatile. It’s not just what he does in a stock car.
“I think there are a lot of great stock car drivers out there. But I think for him to be able to jump from a stock car to a dirt sprint car to a late model and then go and get into an IndyCar and be good at it pretty quick – that’s a unique skill that not everybody has,” Gordon said.
However, despite this, the Miami incident remains a point of contention. At the Homestead-Miami Speedway, Larson attempted a risky three-wide pass that resulted in him spinning out, drawing the race’s first caution. This move, described as reckless by Petty, was seen as a counterproductive decision that ultimately cost him valuable positions in a race critical to his standing heading into the playoffs.
“Here’s what I want to talk about as we leave Miami: Stupidity, people making bad decisions. Tyler Reddick showed on Lap 7 what he was gonna do to win when he blocked the 5 car of Kyle Larson all the way almost down on the flat getting into Turn 1… We also saw Kyle Larson drive her off earlier in there to cause this caution. Three-wide, what’s he thinking? Stupid move.”
As the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs close in on its conclusion, Larson finds himself seven points shy of the cut-off for the Championship-4, adding additional pressure to his upcoming campaigns. With fellow HMS teammates Chase Elliott and William Byron also grappling for positions, the tension is palpable.