Alas, Sunday’s South Point 400 wasn’t a Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson battle. So what? It did come down to a Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing face-off. However, despite tough competition from Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson clinched the first spot in the Championship 4 race. What’s more: Bell didn’t resort to dirty means while racing Larson, which might not have happened if it were Hamlin. No doubt, the #5 speedster was grateful.

Taking desperate measures during the semifinal round of the playoffs is nothing abnormal. But the number 20 JGR icon knew better. He chased Larson, waiting for him to make a mistake (which he didn’t), and ultimately, settled for a second-place finish. Moments after the race, Larson carried the conversation away from the tracks of NASCAR to the dirt tracks, where he and Bell had raced multiple times. But it was then that he revealed how Joe Gibbs was chaining Bell down.

Kyle Larson fires shots at the former football coach

What is the first thing that comes to mind when the name Kyle Larson comes up? 22 Cup race wins (now 23), 3-time All-Star race winner, 2021 Cup Series champion, and maybe, 14 career Xfinity wins. But that’s strictly from the NASCAR point of view. Kyle Larson has numerous achievements in the non-NASCAR world as well.

Speaking of which, Larson has victories in the UMP Modifieds, winged sprint cars, dirt late models, and even in midget car races. Over the course of his career, he has raced in 7 different divisions at the Eldora Speedway and he has won all 7 of them. It just goes to prove how versatile this 31-year-old man is in the arena of car racing. However, it wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for his boss.

Mr. Hendrick is quite enthusiastic about his driver racing in different types of cars. Needless to mention, Kyle Larson will be joining IndyCar next year with the Hendrick 1100 and recently, the Elk Grove native came out of the IndyCar Rookie Orientation Program with flying colors. Both Rick Hendrick and HMS vice chairman Jeff Gordon were there to watch. And this leniency is what Christopher Bell lacks, said Kyle Larson.

Larson admitted that he had immense respect for Christopher Bell. He went back in time and remembered being the aggressive one in their dirt car battles. Even then, Bell had raced Larson with respect. And now it’s Larson’s turn to give it back.

Kyle Larson said, “He (Bell) is, 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 interesting to speculate what that might mean. Does Joe Gibbs restrict his drivers from racing in non-NASCAR races? Is there some kind of contract that he makes his drivers sign which would have them stick solely to NASCAR? Maybe, maybe not. But a little speculation shouldn’t hurt.

Watch this story: Kyle Larson Namedrops “Top-3 Guy” as Biggest Championship Roadblock

It’s no fun taking a shot at the goal that doesn’t have a goalkeeper. Similarly, it’s no fun running a top-tier NASCAR race if there is no competition. Kyle Larson was happy to be able to beat Christopher Bell as the latter has a really fast car and almost similar winning chances. However, winning the first seat in the Championship race was not the only takeaway for Kyle Larson.

Larson sets a record at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

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Stage 1 win went to Kyle Larson. Stage 2 win went to Kyle Larson. The race win went to Kyle Larson. It goes without saying, that Sunday seemed to be a great day for Kyle Larson. By winning the opening round of 16 race at Darlington, Kyle Larson had snatched the first of the 12 seats in the next round and by winning the opening round of 8 race at the 1.5-mile racetrack in Nevada, the Chevy star has booked the first seat in the ultimate battle of the season.

When he rammed into the outside wall on lap 142, crew chief Cliff Daniels was a bit perplexed, but not for long. Larson made a spectacular rebound following the last pit stop and steered up from 3rd to the lead and after that, there was no looking back for him.

According to FOX Sports, Larson said, “I was glad that it kissed the wall because had it not, I was going to slide down and hit the inside wall and have our race over… thankfully caught the wall but then didn’t catch the front end in the wall.” All’s well that ends well. But what’s the record that Kyle Larson has set?

Kyle Larson led 133 laps of the race and edged Christopher Bell by 0.082 seconds to win it, making it the second-closest margin of win in the history at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Indeed, a great day for Kyle Larson. All eyes are now fixated on the next race at Homestead Miami. Who will join Kyle Larson in the Championship 4? Will it be his teammate William Byron? Or will it be his golf buddy Denny Hamlin? The wait begins now!

Read more: Hendrick Motorsports Reveals Record-Setting Feat Is “Finally Underway” as Kyle Larson Prepares to Put His Name in History Books