“I Just Suck. Me. As the Driver.” – Kyle Larson’s Heartbreaking Admission Resurfaces Following Car Fire Last Year

Looking at NASCAR is like looking at an iceberg. The tip of the iceberg in the world of motor racing is the drivers, who gain the lion’s share of the fame from their followers. But taking a peek into the inner functioning of the teams of drivers will surely unfold a different story. While it is the drivers whose names make it to the Hall of Fame and go down in the pages of history, there is a multitude of people who work in the background, standing as the pillar of the team and directing the driver.

Whilst NASCAR enthusiasts are already accustomed to the role of spotters in NASCAR, who guide the drivers by acting as their eye throughout the race, it is the crew chief who holds the string of the racing and lays the groundwork for the driver as well as the team. They are the initiator of how the race is to be conducted. And one such master craftsman is Cliff Daniels, who showed the world of NASCAR what a real pep talk is last year.

Kyle Larson’s Crew Chief’s Sound Counsel and Belief in His Driver

There is no doubt in the fact that it is the drivers who garner the most adulation and are cheered the loudest. But these unsung heroes with their headpieces, standing in front of the screens and orchestrating each and every detail of the race, are often overlooked by the fans. 

Among these plethoras of people, the crew chiefs of NASCAR are the ones who are the most responsible for the performance of their drivers. These quarterbacks of NASCAR not only gauge the performance of the drivers but are also the biggest motivational support system of the drivers when the race takes a toll on the mental preparedness of the driver.

And this can be attested from the conversation between the crew chief Cliff Daniels and Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports, which took place when the speedster had a rough day at practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway last year. 

After sustaining multiple damages during the practice, the defending champion could be heard on the team radio lashing out, “I’m sorry. I think I’m okay, but I mean but as hard as I hit something has got to be bent. Crawling around the racetrack, trying not to crouch. I’m not good. In general, I think I f***ed my car up a long time. And I’ve got to figure out how to drive it now. I just suck. Me. As the driver, I suck, not anybody else, but me.”

Daniels’ dexterity lay in the fact that even though the whole team was frustrated with the performance, he chose not to vent it out but assure his driver.

He was heard speaking, “I will tell you what, let’s make a deal. 35 laps for halfway. We’ve gone from all over the place to all over the place. So at halfway, the pit crew is going to be reset, and you’re going to be reset. We’ll work on the car a little bit more. Let’s just go have 200 good laps, I know you are frustrated. I get it, but we’re going to be fine. Brandon Johnson said you better have your chin up.”

 “I’ll give you 34 more laps. Lap 200 we’re going to turn around. How’s that?” the crew chief added. And the message was well received by the No.5 driver. 

Daniels’ pep talk was even heard during the stage break of the race. He cheered up his driver by saying, “Well, it’s just after 9 PM. That means we’re three hours to get to halfway of the race. In the first half, all I want you to remember is how good a TV we made. We went from the back to the front more times than we can count.”

He also added, “We hit the wall, we spun out, we literally caught on fire. We are also the most penalized team on the pit road in the first half. All that means is that in the 2nd half. We’ve got to execute right now. Start with this pit stop. Then it’s going to restart. Then it’s going to be whatever comes after that.” 

“So I don’t know what the h*** you are really worried about. But I’m fine, the team is fine. Everybody down here is nodding their hands, giving a thumbs up. So let’s go.”

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This kind of rationale really helped Larson in turning the tide of the race. And this kind of determination is something that all humans can put to use. 

Seeing the throwback post from NASCAR, a fan exclaimed, “First I was in tears because Kyle was so down on himself. Cliff’s pep talk gave me chills! He is definitely a motivational speaker. What a team!!” 

“This is a legendary pairing. Kyle Larson is a hell of a driver.”

While another exclaimed, “Why can’t Elliott get a crew chief like Ives. Alan fucking blows.”

“Cliff Daniels is amazing!  Great leader, great motivator.  I listen to their radio every race to hear conversations like this one.  He and Kyle are perfect together.”

This proves the fact that it is not about the question of winning or losing, but rather the amount of belief that the team and driver have for each other. It is the innate belief that all obstacles can be overcome, and this is what helped Larson in salvaging the night.

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