“This Confidence In Me That I Could Do It” – Kyle Larson Reveals What It Took To Get Out Of The Pressures Of The Cup Series When He Joined

Kyle Larson is one of the most prominent names in the history of NASCAR. Known for his aggression at the tracks and legendary racing career, the 37th King’s Royal Champion has come a long way to become a NASCAR Cup champion. Unfortunately, not many know about the struggles and pressure of competing against the best that Larson went through earlier in his life. But this is your chance to get to know the struggles of your favorite driver, from the champion himself. 

The #5 Chevrolet Camaro driver, in Episode 4 of “Kyle Larson Documentary Series,” revealed how he got out of the pressure of his NASCAR Cup Series debut. Coming from the legend himself, the struggles he talked about aren’t just surprising, but something that we can all take inspiration from. So what did the NASCAR Champion indeed disclose that left the fans in awe? 

How Did Kyle Larson Handle The Pressure Of NASCAR Cup Series As A Newcomer?

Kyle Larson made his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2013 and drove the #51 Chevrolet for Phoenix Racing. The debut was rough for him because of the level of competition at that time. There was an apparent pressure that he felt when he joined the Cup Series. But luckily, Larson was experienced enough to get out of the pressure. 

In the latest episode of the Kyle Larson Documentary Series, the NASCAR Champion shared that he wasn’t even sure if he could race in the cup series.

He said, “I never would have thought that I was gonna be in the cup series. Like I thought this was like a process and I didn’t really know if I was ready to go Cup racing yet, but I mean I had this confidence in me that I could do it.” 

Every successful person needs a supporting hand in times of pressure. For Larson, that hand was the team owner. Adding to the statement, Larson said, “If your team owner sees a potential you’ll move you up and just go figure it out.” And this is how he finally stood up against all the pressure and took him out from the bundle of thoughts that might have affected his performance. 

The very next season, he became a full-time driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, and the rest is history. 

Read More: Dirt Fanatic Kyle Larson Confesses His Bizarre Indy 500 Wish

In 2016, Larson got his first victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan, and that victory was legendary. Do you know why? It’s because Larson became the victor after beating a future rival and champion. The #42 Chip Ganassi Racing driver led 41 laps in that race and beat Chase Elliott by 1.478 seconds. He finished 9th in the final standing of that season after compiling 15 top-10 finishes in just 36 races. And then 2017 happened, the golden year for the future champion. 

2017 NASCAR Cup Series – The Career-Boosting Year of Kyle Larson

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“2017 was like way better than I thought we would ever run at Ganassi you know we were the best if not the second best team all year long we won four races that year and got finished second like eight or nine times something crazy like that,” said the 21 Cup Series race winner in the Documentary. 

2017 was surely the golden year for the now Hendrick Motorsports driver. We can say that this is the year that gave Larson a boost to his career. That year, he won four NASCAR Cup races, including the first race at Auto Club Speedway. The second and third wins at Michigan International Speedway. And finally, the fourth win at the Richmond Raceway. 

In addition to the four wins in the NASCAR Cup Series, he also had three wins in the Xfinity Series, with an average finish time of 6.09. Adding to his 2017 winning experience, Larson also shared how he will always be proud of himself and his team for giving their best, despite running on limited resources. 

Larson stated, “We were a small team with way less resources than any of the teams were competing against and we were out running all of them, so like the years like that you know made me super proud.”

Larson is definitely someone that any upcoming motorsport sports racer should look up to. He is an excellent example that with hard work and passion, there’s nothing that can stop you from being called a “Legend.” 

Watch This Story: Why Did Kyle Larson Get Fired From NASCAR? Who Saved His Career?

Other than 2017, 2021 was also an outstanding year for Kyle Larson. He won a total of 10 races and became the NASCAR Cup Series Champion. What’s your favorite Larson finish from this year? Let’s hear it out in the comment section!