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AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 07: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, walks onstage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 07, 2021 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 07: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, walks onstage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 07, 2021 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
If there still was any doubt in the indusputable, undeniable popularity and impact of NASCAR’s defending Cup Champion Kyle Larson, well, it should go away now. This is because of what happened at a recent dirt race in Tennessee.
Ahead of the Bristol dirt race this weekend, the dirt late model race in Tennessee became the most-watched single-day event in FloSports history.
Journalist Jeff Gluck reported, “FloSports says the Kyle Larson dirt late model race last night in Tennessee became “the most-watched single day event in FloSports history.” That’s not just for FloRacing, but all of FloSports. Volunteer Speedway also had its highest attendance in 20 years.”
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FloSports says the Kyle Larson dirt late model race last night in Tennessee became “the most-watched single day event in FloSports history.” That’s not just for FloRacing, but all of FloSports. Volunteer Speedway also had its highest attendance in 20 years.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) April 15, 2022
This news led to a flurry of reactions from NASCAR fans, dirt racing fans, and Kyle Larson fans, who all hailed the impact the man from Elk-Grove currently holds in whatever form of racing he chooses to step into.
Why isn't Kyle Larson the most popular Driver in nascar he does way more for the sport than Chase Elliot?
— wayne korpi (@wayne_korpi) April 15, 2022
Everyone did a great job promoting that race.
— Richard Allen/InsideDirtRacing.com (@RichardAllenIDR) April 15, 2022
Really question is why has @NASCAR not developed a Flo style app. Old races, interviews, and throw Arca stuff on there too. They own it all and people would pay for it again and again
— zack morgan (@zman_pr) April 15, 2022
Jeff, if @KyleLarsonRacin would post his dirt schedule enough in advance for people to plan, this would be the normal. I kinda get why he doesn’t, so to not disappoint if he cancels. But if I could make plans months in advance I’d be there more often. 🤷♂️
— Russ Hoffman (@Dirt_N_Mybeer) April 15, 2022
Jeff, most won't admit this, but @KyleLarsonRacin is a stone winner, he's got the Golden Touch, racing, promoting, car owner, businessman, family man, the future is so bright for #KyleLarson. #RickHendrick & #TonyStewart knew it. #NASCAR #Henrick #Chevy #CupSeries #Bristol
— Rick Glaser (@RealRickGlaser1) April 16, 2022
Kyle….fucking Larson
— Hayden Henry (@hayden_henry11) April 16, 2022
Kyle Larson thinks racing with windshields at Bristol is “kind of lame”
As the Bristol dirt race looms over the horizon, there’s one complaint Kyle Larson has with NASCAR. And that is the fact that the Next Gen Cup cars have the windshield during a dirt race, something which Larson is against.
“We just shouldn’t race on dirt if we’re not going to take the windshields out and actually have a dirt race. With moisture in the track and being able to produce a real dirt race,” he said.
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The Hendrick Motorsports driver said going ahead with the windshield is “just wasting everybody’s time a little bit,” something which he feels neither the fans nor the competitors deserve.
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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 16: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, speaks to the media during the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Kyle Larson even went on to say that if the windshields do remain on in the future too, then they “might as well” never put the dirt on the Bristol track again. But having said that, he understands “the safety side” of NASCAR and why they’re not taking it away.
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Still, the champ said, “I feel like it’s just kind of lame.”
