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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)
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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)
It’d be pretty tough to find someone who doesn’t consider Kyle Larson as one of the best drivers of this generation. But if you did find someone who thinks otherwise, just show them what the Hendrick Motorsports driver did in Miami recently.
Yes, he won, but he did so in a way only greats do.
Larson dominated the entire race, running in a class of his own. And nowhere was this more reflective than in a statistic that emerged after the race.
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If the 267 laps in total at Miami were run in one go, that is, without the stage breaks, and the final positions were judged on speeds alone, Kyle Larson would’ve won the race with a 2.5-mile margin ahead of the second place.
Now, this was something that was acknowledged by fans, but at the same time, it led to criticism of the stage format of racing. You see, there’s a big chunk of the NASCAR fanbase who aren’t quite fond of the current format of racing employed by the sport.
And they made sure they called it out here as well.
No it’s not. Natural cautions occurred through the race. We have stages because bs debris cautions were getting called out by @DaleJr and others. They ruin strategy and overall hurt racing.
— Matt Reid (@ItIsMeMatt) October 25, 2022
Can’t ever have that with the manufactured racing we get every 80 laps
— KLG NobleWarrior88#MediaKitsPartner (@NGaming88) October 25, 2022
Yeah how dare good drivers get rewarded for dominant perfs
— Meltered (@FlyingTrains1) October 25, 2022
Too bad Cup isn't a racing series anymore, it's a restart series.
— Panther (@crocsstan8899) October 26, 2022
Just like the good old days that everyone wants to go back to.
— D Snelson (@dsnelson) October 25, 2022
Abolish stage racing.
— AJ Olding (@AndrewOlding) October 25, 2022
WATCH THIS STORY: “Not Classy Whatsoever” – When a Rash Bubba Wallace Was Condemned By NASCAR for His Actions Against Hendrick Motorsports Driver
Kyle Larson holds no grudge against Bubba Wallace
Poll of the day
Kyle Larson & HMS Are Planning to Return to Indy 500 Next Year. But Should They?
Yes! It Is Great for NASCAR
No, It Was a Disaster This Time
In an interview leading up to the race at Homestead Miami, Kyle Larson clarified his stance on Bubba Wallace, their supposed feud, and whether or not he has talked to the 23XI Racing driver.
“No, we haven’t talked, yet,” Larson said. “I’m sure, we hopefully will, eventually. Honestly, I feel like a lot of people are expecting him to reach out and apologize. I don’t expect an apology, for anything.”
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“I’m all good on my end.”
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1353513096.jpg?width=150&blur=15)
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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)
As for whether he needs an apology from Wallace, who put out a statement after the race in Vegas but didn’t particularly apologize to the #5 driver, Larson said he doesn’t need it anyway.
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“I’m a big boy, I guess. I don’t get my feelings hurt, easy. I move on from things, really fast,” he added.