Let’s be real—if modern-day dirt racing had a Mount Rushmore, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell’s faces would be chiseled right into it. These two have been going at it since their sprint car days, long before they became NASCAR Cup Series stars. And now, with Joe Gibbs lifting the ban on his drivers competing in non-Cup events, the rivalry is back in full swing. From the Tulsa Shootout to the Chili Bowl and now the World of Outlaws championship, Larson and Bell have been tearing up the dirt scene, leaving fans on the edge of their seats and each other hungry for bragging rights.

But this isn’t just about trophies or prize money, the pair of them have plenty between them. Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, has been vocal about frenemy, Bell’s return to dirt racing and their recent battles for the Little Gator, with Larson taking a few moments to reflect on the rivalry.

The duel at Volusia – Larson vs. Bell, round one (and two)

Picture this: Volusia Speedway Park, three laps to go, and Larson and Bell are locked in a battle that feels like it’s straight out of a movie, Bell, in the Kreitz Racing No. 69K, is glued to the bottom, while Larson is throwing everything he’s got at the top. A masterclass in dirt racing, and when the checkered flag drops, Bell wins by a razor-thin 0.05 seconds.

In the aftermath, Kyle Larson explained the reason behind losing the race on the home stretch. “I thought I did a pretty good job on that last restart,” Larson admitted afterward. “I stayed with him on the frontstretch and thought I could build enough of a run. But this place is so wide. Running the top is a long way around, and I just came up a little short.”

But Larson wasn’t about to let Bell have all the fun. The very next night, he turned the tables. Starting on the pole, Larson dominated the 25-lap feature, fending off Bell and securing his first-ever win at Volusia. “It feels good to finally win here,” Larson said. “We’ve run here maybe 15 times without a win, so it’s been lingering in my head. To qualify well and finally get it done—it’s a great feeling.”

Larson and Bell trading blows in dirt racing isn’t uncommon. Since the start of 2025, they’ve raced against each other in three different dirt competitions: the World of Outlaws, 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals, and the 2025 Tulsa Shootout, along and it has been a back-and-forth in the head-to-head battles. As it stands, Larson and Bell are exactly equal in terms of finishing the other person, with four races each. If they can replicate this rivalry in 2025, we may have another Kyle Larson-Denny Hamlin-esque rivalry.

Even Larson couldn’t help but acknowledge the significance of their rivalry. “It’s pretty neat that two Cup guys are tied for the point lead in the Outlaw Tour,” he said. “Bell’s not been racing this stuff for a long time, but he’s extremely fast. It’s fun to have him back, and it’s good to win one in front of him.”

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Larson’s Volusia breakthrough and the silent partnership with Paul Silva

For Larson, winning at Volusia wasn’t just about checking a box—it was about overcoming years of frustration. “This has probably been the one place I’ve come to the most without a win,” he reflected. “Every time we’d come here, we’d qualify three-tenths off, and that’s frustrating. But this time, we qualified well, and that gave us the track position we needed to finally get it done.”

Behind Larson’s success is his longtime partnership with Paul Silva, his crew chief and car owner. Their relationship is, well, unique. “We don’t really talk,” Larson said with a laugh. “I build my schedule as soon as the races come out, and Paul knows what I want to do. We don’t talk on the phone, and we only text about schedule stuff. But we both knew we wanted to win here.” Silva’s expertise and Larson’s raw talent have proven to be an unbeatable combination.

It was a testament to the power of persistence and the unspoken bond between driver and crew chief. “It feels honestly better just to qualify well,” Larson said. “When you know you’re going to be three-tenths off before you even qualify, it’s demoralizing. But this time, we got it right, and that made all the difference.” As Larson and Bell prepare to return to their NASCAR duties in the build-up to Daytona, their dirt racing rivalry remains a highlight of the weekends between the season. Whether it’s the thrill of a last-lap pass or the satisfaction of finally conquering a challenging track, these two continue to push each other to new heights.

And for fans, it’s a chance to witness two of the best in the business doing what they do best: racing hard, racing clean, and leaving everything on the track.