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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 18: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, waves to fans during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 18, 2021 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 18: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, waves to fans during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 18, 2021 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
NASCAR is in its off-season, and both drivers and fans are missing each other. It is also the holiday season – it’s the time when children wish for Santa to reward their good behavior. But for some Kyle Larson fans, he is the only Santa Claus they want a gift from.
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Kyle Larson is from the younger crop of drivers plying their trade in NASCAR. The 2021 Cup Series winner is undoubtedly an inspiration for many young children and new drivers who aim to emulate what Larson has done in his career.
A young kid, clearly a fan of the Californian driver, shows how much Larson means to him. The boy, Isaac Hapes, wrote a letter for Larson, which was posted on Twitter by his mother.
The letter read, “Dear Kyle Larson, Hi I am Isaac. You are my favorite NASCAR and dirt driver. I was so upset when your tow link broke in the round of 8. But I was very happy when you won the 2021 Championship.”
Most kids write to Santa, but Isaac wrote to his favorite NASCAR driver! 🎄🏁 @KyleLarsonRacin #MerryChristmas #KyleLarson #NASCAR #biggestfan pic.twitter.com/LgbqY54CZ5
— Laura Hapes (@LauraHapes) December 7, 2022
It further said, “I have seen you win in real life. It was the 60th annual Knoxville Nationals. I want to be a racer just like you and my dad he raced micro sprints in Kansas. I live in Iowa.”
Moving on to their football allegiances, the boy said, “I am a big Iowa Hawkeyes and I like the Kansas Jayhawks. I also like the Kansas City Chiefs. I have a friend who likes the 49ers like you I think,” before ending with “Good luck next year in racing. Please right back. Please with a cherry on top. Ohh and Merry Christmas!”
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What a sweet gesture from a fan that clearly loves their hero!
The love-hate story of Kyle Larson and dirt racing
Young Isaac calls Larson his favorite NASCAR and dirt racing driver, and that’s for good reason. Larson has won several events in dirt racing as well and has also been responsible for a ‘revival’ of dirt racing in the mainstream.

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MARTINSVILLE, VA – OCTOBER 29: Kyle Larson (#5 Hendrick Motorsports HendrickCars.com Chevrolet) looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Xfinity 500 on October 29, 2022 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, VA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Larson had ruffled quite a few feathers earlier this year when he said he wouldn’t be participating in the Chili Bowl Nationals in 2023. This was shocking coming from a driver who couldn’t control his tears and emotions when he won the event for the first time in 2020.
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But after having participated in the race for 15 years straight, he decided to not continue the streak. The reason he gave was a very low purse amount compared to other events (the winner of the Chili Bowl earns $10,000).
While the Chili Bowl didn’t relent, the Lucas Oil Series announced an enormous change. From 2023 onwards, they changed the format for the Series to a NASCAR Chase-style format. But more importantly, they have jacked the purse up to $1 million, which is substantially higher than its existing purse size.
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Lucas Oil may not admit that the step was because of the HMS driver’s withdrawal, but it had to have some effect on the decision-making.
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