Kyle Larson breaks silence on backlash over ‘embarrassing Xfinity drivers’ comment

HMS veteran Kyle Larson has given his reason for the bold statement he gave about racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Kyle Larson breaks silence on backlash over ‘embarrassing Xfinity drivers’ comment

Kyle Larson (Via IMAGO)

Hendrick Motorsports’ 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson is considered by many in the racing community as the best racer on the current grid and he has proven his worth securing many wins. Recently following his dominant wins in the Bristol Xfinity and Cup races, Larson made a bold statement on his agenda behind racing in the second tier of NASCAR.

Kyle Larson claimed in his appearance in the Happy Hour podcast of Kevin Harvick that he races in the second division to embarrass the young racers, to teach them the difference between the elite division and the rest. This created a lot of fuss within the community, with some fans calling out the cocky attitude shown by the veteran. He has now given the reason behind his claim in another interview.

When I was a full-time Xfinity guy I loved that the Cup Series, or when Cup guys would run, and they got to run every single week… it really pushed me to become a better racecar driver, because I could compare myself to them. I could race behind them, learn from guys like Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski…I even raced against Jimmie Johnson in an Xfinity race.

Kyle Larson said via Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

Racing all these champions in his formative years, gave Kyle Larson a lot of learning opportunities and helped him to become a better racer. These opportunities were more in the past when the racers were given unlimited chances to race in lower division, compared to the five-race limit which is imposed now, with the Kyle Busch rule.

So, I felt like because of that, once Xfinity guys, or even back before me, whatever Busch series or whatever, when they came to Cup, they were ready for Cup because they were competing with Cup guys every Saturday and beating them or getting beat. But regardless they were learning.

Kyle Larson added.

Kyle Larson uses Ty Gibbs argument to make his case

Further discussing the topic, Kyle Larson highlighted how Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs have struggled to secure a win in the top division, after getting the promotion with the 2022 second division title win. He hasn’t scored a single win, despite being in the sport for now over two and half-season.

Ty Gibbs
Ty Gibbs (Via IMAGO)

Gibbs demonised the Xfinity series in 2021 and 2022, but failed to produce performance close to that in the top-division. Larson believes this shows the difference in quality of racing and drivers, and if the youngster had more experience racing the elite drivers, he would have been performing on a higher level in the Cup Series.

Well now you don’t get that, so Xfinity guys, I don’t feel like are as good as they once were. And definitely not as prepared for Cup as they once were. I think that’s why you see a guy like Ty Gibbs. I really like Ty Gibbs. He’s an Xfinity Series champion, but he’s yet to win a race. I think a lot of that comes from just the limits that NASCAR’s put on.

Kyle Larson said.

The comments from the Hendrick Motorsports veteran shows he has a respectful goal with all the Xfinity Series appearance that involves helping the next generation of racers like the legends of the sport did. It will be interesting to see how the Xfinity garage will respond whine Larson steps into another event this season.