“Daytona and Talladega suck. Like, they suck.” Kyle Larson didn’t hold back after finishing third in the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway last Sunday. Notably, for years, superspeedway racing had been his Achilles’ heel. Despite being one of the most talented drivers of his generation, Larson has struggled on drafting tracks. But something changed in Atlanta.

For the first time in years, Larson didn’t just survive a superspeedway race—he thrived in it. He led multiple laps, won Stage 2, and was in contention for the victory on the last lap. However, Christopher Bell edged him out for the win due to a caution. However, Larson’s performance felt like a breakthrough. It was different, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. took notice of that.

The NASCAR Hall of Famer, who has ten wins at superspeedways, including four consecutive races in Talladega and two Daytona 500 wins, sent Larson a message after the race. He not only praised the Hendrick Motorsports driver but also tried to ignite a fire inside him for the Daytona and Talladega tracks.

On the latest episode of his Dale Jr. Download Podcast, the former Hendrick Motorsports driver revealed details of his private conversation with Kyle Larson. “I texted him after the race, and I said, ‘What you did today- I don’t know, it looked fun. It looked badass from where I was sitting. But what you did today is exactly what Daytona and Talladega used to be back when you could do whatever you wanted—take a car, make moves, and show your skill. But what you did today is pretty much what it was like.’ And he said, ‘Man, today was fun as hell.’ He had a blast,” Dale Jr. revealed.

Notably, Sunday’s race at Atlanta felt different from Larson’s usual superspeedway struggles. Starting from the 17th, Larson steadily worked his way to the front. He won Stage 2, marking his first stage victory on a superspeedway. He led 12 laps and positioned himself perfectly for the final sprint to the checkered flag. Coming out of turn four, he had the lead on the inside line, only for Christopher Bell to squeeze past him. A crash behind them brought out the caution, sealing Bell’s victory. Larson had to settle for the third behind Carson Hocevar.

Meanwhile, Dale Jr. didn’t just praise Larson as he expressed his desire for him to embrace superspeedway racing. “Daytona is our cornerstone. The Daytona 500 is our most important event. I want our best driver fond of that event, fond of that race, fond of going there,” Dale Jr. said. Notably, that has never been the case for Larson. He has seen Daytona as a graveyard of bad luck and frustration.

It all started in 2013 when Larson made his Daytona debut in the Xfinity series race. He ended up in walls and, since then, has failed to thrive on any superspeedway track. Before Atlanta, Larson had failed to finish four straight races at the track. His Daytona record is even worse as in 22 race starts, he has an average finish of 21.9. Overall, he had only two top-five finishes in 48 starts across all drafting tracks. Now, after years of misery, Larson may finally be seeing the light. His run at Atlanta showed what he’s capable of. However, the race also ignited an old-age rivalry on track.

Kyle Larson opens up about his rivalry with Christopher Bell

Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell have been competing against each other for over a decade. From dirt tracks to NASCAR, their battles have been fierce. And last Sunday, they added another chapter to their story. On the caution-filled final lap, Bell edged Larson to win the Ambetter Health 400. However, it wasn’t the first time that the two drivers fought hard for a win on track.

On the recent episode of the Stacking Pennies podcast, Larson reflected on their long-standing rivalry. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion admitted that Bell once had the upper hand—and it hurt. “I ran for Keith and Pete with the TRD program at KKM full-time in 2011. A lot in 2012. And then, he [Bell] came in the middle of 2012 or 2013. That’s when he started kicking my a– all the time, which killed my ego for a long time. I’m running second to him every night, every year, at the Chili Bowl. I hated getting beat by Bell,” Larson admitted.

Notably, Larson has been a dirt track phenomenon in the NASCAR, but Bell has been equally or even more decorated than him. In the 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals, Kyle Larson once again dominated the track and won his third Golden Driller in the tournament. Many fans and experts expect Larson and Bell to fight for the NASCAR Cup Series championship in the 2025 season. The race in Atlanta proved that Bell vs. Larson is going to be the biggest storyline of the season.