Kyle Larson admits that Joey Logano DESERVED the 2023 ESPY driver of the year nomination over him

Kyle Larson is nominated alongside F1 world champion Max Verstappen.

Kyle Larson admits that Joey Logano DESERVED the 2023 ESPY driver of the year nomination over him

Kyle Larson and Joey Logano (Via IMAGO)

Team Penske Racing’s Joey Logano’s impressive 2022 NASCAR Cup series winning campaign hasn’t received the credit it deserves. His masterclass made him the first champion of the Next-Gen car era, but despite that, he has been neglected in major awards for drivers this season.

He lost the National Motorsports Press Association best driver award from to championship runner’s up Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain. Now he has been snubbed by ESPN from the prestigious best driver award—2022 award winner Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports. Larson had an underwhelming 2023 season and wasn’t even the best driver of his team.

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While talking about his nomination, he admitted that Joey Logano deserved it more than he did. He added that he is happy to get nominated for the award once again and said he is to win the award this year as well. He will just keep it with the old one. It wasn’t just Logano who was ignored. ESPY also snubbed Chastain, who had his break-out season, and Chase Elliott, last year’s Cup regular season champion.

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“Yeah, they’re the best – or one of the best – in all of their forms of racing. Anytime you can join a list with names like that is special. But again, I think a guy like Joey Logano probably should be on it more so than me. But hey – if I win, I’m going to stick the trophy right next to the other one, too,” Larson told the media in Atlanta.

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Kyle Larson feels honored to get the ESPY nomination

Kyle Larson (1)
Kyle Larson (Credits: @HendrickCars/ Twitter)

An elite group of drivers joins Larson in the list, including the front-runner, two times F1 world champion Max Verstappen. The other two drivers on the list are two times NHRA Drag Racing champion Brittany Force and two times IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden who drives for Logano’s team, Penske Racing.

Larson earlier also admitted that he was surprised and honored by the acknowledgment. He once claimed that many drivers deserved the nomination more than him. Larson added that he doesn’t think fans should vote him as the best of last season.

“Honestly, it’s cool to be acknowledged. I was super surprised by it. I know there was a lot more deserving drivers – at least in American auto racing – than I was last year. But regardless, it’s an honor,” Kyle Larson said.

“I don’t think I should win it (laughs), but either way, it’s cool to be on the list. I feel bad for guys who didn’t get acknowledged for this award because, like I said, there’s a lot more that are deserving of it than me,” Larson added.

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