“Cliff [Daniels] Told Me He Was Gonna Kill Me” – Kyle Larson Calls Out “Out of Control” HMS Equipment After Qualifying Woes at Chicago

The 2.14-mile-long Chicago Street course has kept the NASCAR nation on its toes. While the 12-turn course is known for its tight lanes, flowing turns, and notorious 90-degree corners, Hendrick Motorsports speedster and arguably the most talented driver in the current roster, Kyle Larson has come out with his statement following the qualifying session.

Surprisingly, it’s the HMS equipment that became the hot topic for the driver rather than the tight track itself. With Chase Elliott missing turn 8 and crashing into the wall head first, Larson opened up about his thoughts as he exposed the “out of control” #5 Chevy getting the best of him and revealing his crew chief’s stern advice.

Kyle Larson spills the beans, exposing HMS’s apparent chink in the armor and revealing his crew chief’s strong warning

Larson, after his qualifying session, began by opening up to the media, revealing his team’s sub-par equipment. While his #9 teammate Elliott found out the course’s underlying elements the hard way, Larson who transitioned from dirt racing said, “I think the track is really fun, I think there’s area you can pass,” reflecting on the Xfinity race ahead of the Cup Series race.

He acknowledged the fact that there’s a lot to “watch and learn” from the Xfinity race and how drivers manage the space, racing in tight lanes. Though the driver seemed jolly and fruitful, Rick Hendrick’s driver exposed his team’s soft underbelly.

Larson pointed at the race car itself. He said, “I had a couple of moments early but my car was out of control and then we got it better and I was able to push little harder and feel a little more in control so yeah that I think my setup I haven’t seen this different.”

Acknowledging the lurking dangers on the track, Larson also highlighted the strong advice from his crew chief, Cliff Daniels. “But I think obviously we’re faster than the teammates so it must be better than teammates as well. But Cliff told me he going to kill me if we had to go to the backup car, so I’m able to live to see tomorrow,” said the driver with a laugh. 

READ MORE: Chase Elliott Forced to Eat His Words as He Turns His Back on Allegiance With Kyle Busch

With the #5 driver being the fastest among the 4 drivers from HMS camp, Larson and his Chevy even trumped his teammate and the driver with the most number of wins this season, William Byron, ending his qualifying run at the 7th position while his friend and Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Denny Hamlin will start the Sunday’s race first.

“It feels like a rough road course” – Kyle Larson on the tight Chicago Street course

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Transitioning from an oval short track to a tight, narrow, and bumpy street course is bound to have its risks as drivers quickly realized the dangers of racing in such tight city lanes. Speaking to the media after his qualifying session, a reporter asked, Larson, “How does this car feel on a street course?” 

Designed and set up for short tracks, high-speed Superspeedways, and bumpy road courses, the HMS driver quickly let in on his take about transitioning into a rough street course, saying, “It feels just like a rough road course,” he added on mentioning the nature of the track. “I think everybody’s still learning the limits too of brake zones and speed to carry through corners so but yeah it’s just on the race track honestly just a less room for error.”

WATCH THIS STORY: Racing-obsessed Kyle Larson receives best NASCAR Driver nomination, leaves motorsports fanbase divided 

While NASCAR purists and traditional fans despise the idea of seeing a Cup car on a street course, younger fans who attribute to over 60% of the sport’s fanbase are all in for it. And so is NASCAR. The organization has pumped in 50 million worth of modifications and arrangements to make the 2-day spectacle for its growing audience.