Dale Earnhardt Jr. And Tony Stewart Brands Kyle Larson an “Alien and a Diamond in the Rough”

Hall of Famer’s Tony Stewrat and Kyle Larson got nothing but praise for the two times Cup champion Kyle Larosn from day one.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. And Tony Stewart Brands Kyle Larson an “Alien and a Diamond in the Rough”

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Larson and Tony Stewart (Via IMAGO)

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Hendrick Motorsports Kyle Larson over the years has established himself as the best racer in the NASCAR garage. From his 402 starts in the top tier, he has won 32 races, and two championships, with all of them coming after 2021, when he got a good car after signing with Hendrick Motorsports. Hall of Famers Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. knew the dominance was coming.

Back in 2019, in his appearance on the Dale Jr. Download podcast, Tony Stewart talked to Dale Earnhardt Jr. about Kyle Larson and his versatility that is matched only by the likes of him, A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti. Junior started the discussion highlighting how the current HMS driver is like an alien who can win in any cars and any racing series.

Isn’t Larson like this alien? Yes, he’s kind of like you were in your prime, A.J. Foyt, a Mario Andretti, a guy that can jump in anything. Mario Andretti can jump in a Cup car and win a Daytona 500?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. asked Tony Stewart on Dale Jr. Download.

In response, Tony Stewart who has had a similar multi-series legacy admitted that he aggresses with Dale Jr.’s comment without hesitation. He asserted that Kyle Larson will perform well, if he is given the right opportunity and the right car, something many of his compatriots can never do.

Absolutely no doubt. I mean, the funny thing about the kid is it’s like you just pick him up, put him in the car, tell him “go play nice with the other kids,” and just send him off.

Tony Stewart responded.

Further talking about the point, he asserted that there are almost no drivers in NASCAR that is capable of driving in different disciplines like Kyle Larson, making him a diamond in the rough. If the current NASCAR drivers are taken into account only Conor Zilisch has the Larson potential and when the dirt racing side is considered Christopher Bell deserves a shoutout.

You don’t have to tell him anything — you just send him off and let him drive, and he figures it out. What he does, going from late models to sprint cars and then getting in the Cup car, and how good he is at all of them… you don’t find guys like that anymore. He is the diamond in the rough for sure.

Tony Stewart added.

Mike Davis recalls hilarious local race experience involving Tony Stewart

In the same podcast Mike Davis, Dirty Mo Media’s President and Executive Producer, shared moments from Tony Stewart past. He recalled an incident back in 2003 when he got punched in the face while attending an Animal House race of Tony Stewart with Jimmy Spencer.

Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart (Via RACER.com)

I was there with Spencer in 2003. Tony, on a Cup weekend, breaks away, goes to this animal house — and that is exactly what it was. It was an animal house. I got punched in an autograph line by Spencer, like I was not going to have any of it. Jimmy loved it.

Mike Davis said.

Tony Stewart cherished these detours from the Cup series and was also winning these races, humbling some big names. In the same podcast the now NHRA racer pointed out that those days gave him the ultimate life he was seeking.

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