Did you know Kyle Larson has not cracked the top 10 on a “superspeedway” since 2022? That statistic makes quite a contradictory statement for a driver who prides himself on being a “better all-around driver” than Max Verstappen. However, what’s truly been ironic is how the #5 driver’s advances are getting hurt, thanks to wrecks and below-average performances after that comment.

Larson’s emotions were delicate when he said all that, right after winning his third Knoxville Nationals title in four years, and that’s understandable. But most fans haven’t been shy in giving the man some stick for making those claims last month, especially after a dry spell for the #5 team that could signal shock trouble with only two more races left to make the Round of 12.

Regardless, off the back of another plate-race failure this past Sunday, the dissonance targeting Kyle Larson has only turned louder in the grandstands.

A Big Mouth bites Yung Money once again, as DNFs pile up

Heading into the playoff openers in Atlanta, Kyle Larson was the first seed out of all 16 drivers eligible for a championship, with the most playoff points of all his peers. But something strange happened in Atlanta when his #5 car was running third with just 5 laps left to the end of Stage 1. In a mysterious moment, it looked like the HendrickCars.com Camaro Zl1 found a mind of its own and spun itself headfirst into the SAFER barriers lining the outside wall around Turn 2 at speeds of 160 MPH and above. The hit was massive, and the front of his car was unrecognizable, coasting down the backstretch before Chase Briscoe gave it one final hit from the rear, because all the rising smoke clouded his field of vision.

Both drivers registered a DNF after this incident, which coincidentally also brought out the first caution of the 2024 Quaker State 400. Two playoff contenders watched the rest of the race from the garage, courtesy of a painful-to-watch wreck at Atlanta. Fate could have acted much differently in an alternate reality for Larson and Briscoe. Unfortunately, awaiting Watkins Glen next Sunday, Kyle Larson has dropped quite a few spots in the playoff standings and currently sits only 15 points above the cutline behind nine other drivers. As for Chase Briscoe? He is now dead last in the 16th position, 21 points away from progressing to the Round of 12.

Yung Money wasn’t sure what triggered the incident, and why he had to overcorrect his car. He acknowledged the impact as a “huge hit” in interviews after the race. His playoff counterpart, Briscoe, revealed the true extent of the incident with some concerning revelations. “I’m glad my ankles didn’t get messed up,” he said. “The brake pedal and everything went through the floorboard, so I’m thankful that I’m alright, for sure.” At last, both drivers left the infield care center safe and sound, and their fans breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the SAFER barriers and the HANS device. These innovations prevented an already critical situation from turning any uglier.

But after registering his 5th DNF at Atlanta, circumstances don’t inspire the confidence one typically warrants from an early favorite to lift the championship. And beyond Larson’s sob story, nine out of 16 drivers inside the Round of 16, finished top-10 at the Quaker State 400. So, what is it that has truly affected his popularity and self-confidence?

Fans bring out a fat list of Kyle Larson lapses in 2024

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The loudest stakeholders of the sport have witnessed Kyle Larson go through an emotional rollercoaster and grow exponentially in the last decade or so. Disregarding the pre-existent sentiments, he has wrecked twice in the past four races and finished 21st at the regular-season finale. So when this statistic reached the wider NASCAR community on Reddit, one fan wrote, “He makes too many mistakes to be the ‘best driver in the world.'” They explained, “I’m not saying Larson isn’t crazy talented…he is and probably will be in the final four this year. But look at all his mistakes. Nashville, Chicago, Atlanta...” – trailed off the comment, providing a clearer picture.

Another concurred with a rhetorical question that read, “How can you be the best driver in the world when you throw away so many results on your own?” Indeed, “He (even) lost the regular season championship by 1 point (at Darlington),” one fan opined. In their eyes, Larson “would have walked away with the regular season championship even missing a race if he didn’t take himself out so much.” In essence, there is nothing wrong with that opinion. But for those still wondering exactly what Kyle Larson has done to justify these reactions from the fans, this diehard made it all clear with a detailed list of negative things the former Cup champ has done this season.

Comment
byu/Lava_Panda from discussion
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Reddit User u/TheBigFatToad commented, “Kyle Larson in 2024” followed by their compiled index of his mistakes, listed below:

• Causes wreck at Iowa forcing 3 wide with Suarez
• Spins and wrecks himself at Darlington
• Drives head first into tire barrier at Chicago
• Wrecks Chastain at Nashville in overtime
• Wrecks 4 contenders at Michigan after spinning himself
• Wrecks himself at Atlanta, ruining a playoff contenders race

“And people said Chastain was a terr-rist. Am I missing anything else?” – concluded this well-informed member of the NASCAR community. As for Kyle Larsom’s weakness on drafting tracks, he must find a fix soon. After all, even if he advances past the Round of 16, Talladega awaits him in the next set of eliminators. With a costly mistake already made at Atlanta, it doesn’t look like the #5 team can afford it anymore if they are to contend for the championship until the very end.