An interesting thing Kyle Larson said after winning his first race of the year at Richmond last Sunday was how he found his confidence back. The Hendrick Motorsports driver revealed he went back to watching his videos from 2021. This was something that Denny Hamlin was also recently asked about.

Or more specifically, whether or not he can relate to going back to watching old videos from a successful time during a current moment of crisis or lack of confidence.

“Sometimes, sometimes, sure,” said Hamlin.

But then, he claimed that the problem Larson was suffering from before Richmond wasn’t what everyone thought it was.

Denny Hamlin doesn’t think Kyle Larson was in a slump

Speaking about Larson’s comments after he won the Richmond race, in a recent episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin rejected the idea of someone like Kyle Larson never having self-doubt.

“He knows he can go to a World of Outlaws race or a High Limit race and kick everyone’s a** any day of the week and you’re gonna put him on the top of the list as far as naturally talented racecar drivers,” Hamlin said.

He then made a key point about Larson’s supposed “slump.” 

“I don’t think Kyle’s been in a slump necessarily on how he’s been running. I just think he’s been in a slump finishing. Same as us,” he said. “It just takes one win.”

Hamlin then described that he thought Richmond could’ve been “the one” that kick-starts their season. “This is where we start kicking into gear every year. And that’s what makes me frustrated about it,” he said about not being to capitalize in his home race.

Having said that, he acknowledged the positives Larson’s win will have for him.

“For Kyle, huge momentum boost now for him,” he added.

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Larson claims Next Gen car is not confidence friendly as a driver

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Speaking after winning his first race of the year, Kyle Larson opened up on why chose to watch the videos from 2021 to get his confidence back. “Listening to even post-race interviews, finding where my mindset was at then when I was winning a lot (helped me) compared to what I think I’m like maybe right now,” he said as per Yahoo.

The 2021 Cup champ also claimed that the Next Gen car isn’t all that encouraging for a driver’s confidence.

“The Next Gen stuff, it’s so up and down,” he said. Larson added how they were “so strong” in 2021, riding a high all season with high expectations being met with great execution and amazing results.

“Whereas since we’ve gone to the Next Gen car, it’s hard to get your confidence up,” Larson described. “I just really wanted to look at old tape of myself and just kind of see where my mindset was and see my confidence.”

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