After the 2024 NASCAR season ended, it was a mystery as to what each driver would do during their downtime. While most of the drivers went to enjoy their breaks by taking rest and spending time with family, Kyle Larson couldn’t resist getting behind the wheel. So, with a few months to kill, what did one of the most dominant drivers of the season do? He gets back into racing.

Kyle Larson has taken on the USAC Midget series to spend more time behind the wheel after his disappointing elimination in round 3 of the playoffs. He was the driver that most fans wanted to see win the title, especially considering the fact that he won more races this season than any other driver on the grid with 6 wins, but when he couldn’t get into the Championship 4, he had some racing to do to feel content. In the recent race, he not only participated, but also won the race, but it didn’t come with ease.

Kyle Larson faces challenges in the USAC midget racing series

Kyle Larson’s Sunday at the USAC Midget event shows the driver’s perseverance, and skill, and gave fans a glimpse of nail-biting drama. Competing in only his third Midget start of 2024, Larson had his work cut out for him from the get-go. After starting 14th in his semifinal, he clawed his way to a fourth-place finish, setting the stage for an electrifying main event. Once the green flag dropped, it was all about chasing down Logan Seavey, the early leader, and taking control. And control he did—Larson put on a clinic in the final 17 laps to secure the $5,000 victory.

But the road to victory wasn’t without its challenges. Pit reporter Drake York asked Larson if the win brought any relief. Larson’s answer? A resounding “yes.” Reflecting on his ups and downs at California tracks, he admitted, “We’ve been really good whenever we’ve ran the Midget at all these California tracks except Merced, I feel like. We’ve been average at best, and we’ve had a couple races we were really, really bad.” This win, he added, “felt good,” because it came on a tricky track that tested his ability to navigate through treacherous ruts.

The Sprint Car feature only added to the drama. On lap eight, Kyle Larson’s No. 57 machine hit a patch of ruts in turns three and four, bouncing through the rough surface left behind by recent rains. For a moment, it looked like trouble—his car slipped off the turn-four banking before Larson wrestled it back onto the track. The hiccup cut his lead from 2.3 seconds to just nine-tenths over Carson Macedo. But in true Larson fashion, he regrouped and held strong, proving once again why he’s one of the best in the business.

Merced Speedway has been Kyle Larson’s Achilles’ heel, the one track where his usual dominance just doesn’t click. Between navigating the unpredictable Midget and holding off challenges in the Sprint Car, Larson showed why he thrives under pressure. Sunday’s performance wasn’t just a win—it was a masterclass in adaptability and determination. This is the same adaptability that led him to call himself the best driver in the world over the 4-time F1 world champion, Max Verstappen and NASCAR veteran drivers believe it.

Kevin Harvick backs Kyle Larson’s best driver claim

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Earlier this year, a debate was sparked where Kyle Larson called himself the best driver in the world. Many motorsports fans started to argue that Formula 1 reigning champion Max Verstappen deserves the title. The conversation ignited after Larson’s impressive win at the Knoxville Nationals, where he confidently told FloRacing that he’s a more complete driver than Verstappen. Larson even suggested that Verstappen might struggle to compete at tracks like Bristol or in the Chili Bowl.

The statement sent shockwaves through the motorsport community, sparking spirited discussions among fans and fellow drivers. Harvick chimed in during his Happy Hour Podcast on NASCAR Fox’s YouTube channel, making a bold case for Larson’s adaptability. He argued that while Verstappen excels in F1, Larson’s ability to shine across multiple racing disciplines sets him apart. “If Kyle Larson went to drive Max Verstappen’s car, in one or two days, he’d be damn close to being as fast as Max Verstappen,” Harvick said. “But there is no way Max Verstappen comes over here and does that in a stock car.”

However, Kyle Larson did not manage to make it into the finals in his discipline, and Max Verstappen went on to win yet another title with two races still to go in the season. That being said, who do you think deserves the title of the best driver in the world? Share your thoughts in the comments below.