Kyle Larson calls Christopher Bell one of the ‘best racers in the world’ after beating him at Las Vegas
Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell share a lot of similarities in terms of their career.
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Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson (Via IMAGO)
Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson became the first driver to secure a spot in the Cup season finale as he won the first race playoff Round of 8 at Las Vegas. He beat Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell, who started the race on the pole for the win. Larson was just a car length away from Bell at the start-finish line, and if the race had one more lap, the JGR drivers would’ve stolen the victory.
After the race, the 2021 Cup champion was praised for his rival Bell. He pointed out the Toyota driver raced him clean, and he respected him for that. Larson called Bell one of the best racers in the world and claimed that if Joe Gibbs had given him permission, Bell would’ve been racing in multiple series just like him.
“So, you know, for him to continue to race me clean, you know, I definitely have a ton of respect for him. Always have. He’s, in my opinion, one of the best race car drivers in the world and could do everything that I get to do outside of NASCAR if his team would let him. It’s just fun to get to battle with a guy like that,” said Larson, as reported by NASCAR.com.
The rival duo is among the most successful dirt and sprint car racers in the world. They have had some valiant fights among them in the dirt tracks in the past. But unlike Larson, Bell isn’t allowed to race in dirt or other racing series by his boss. It would’ve been great to see Larson and Bell fighting it out on the top dirt tracks around the USA.
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Kyle Larson admits he is the aggressive driver between the two
Rick Hendrick, driver, while explaining the dynamic in the fight on track between them, admitted that Bell always races clean and with respect. He said, “That was just me kind of showing respect and saying thanks in a way for, you know, having us race it out. Obviously, I’m happy because I won. But he’s always been a really fair, clean racer.”
He went on candidly to admit that during the fight between the two in NASCAR or on dirt track, he is often the aggressor. Larson said, “You know, we’ve had numbers and numbers of battles in stock cars, but most mostly in dirt tracks, and I’m typically the one that is the aggressor or the aggressive one in our battles and probably push the limit of being dirty sometimes.”
While Larson has secured a spot in the finale, Bell isn’t in the right place going into the second race at Miami. He is three points off the cut-line and has to continue his impressive qualifying form and secure a win or back-to-back top-65 finishes to book a spot in the finale like he did last season.
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Justin P Joy
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