NASCAR racing is a team sport; this is often the message pitched forward by some of the top drivers in the Cup Series. While the driver is the one who completes 200 or so laps on the weekends to mark a success story for the team, the groundwork is laid down by critical team members. Which often at times gets unnoticed and perhaps unappreciated by the racing community.

When it comes to laying down the blueprint in the modern era of NASCAR, it all boils down to simulation practice. As it helps, the teams prepare for multiple scenarios and situations that might pop up during the race. This is where Anthony Alfredo seems to be pulling up the weights for Hendrick Motorsports drivers. Even Kyle Larson could not help but tip his hat to the Xfinity Series driver for his contribution to the team.

Kyle Larson acknowledges Anthony Alfredo’s efforts with an apt title

Back in the day, the only way to prepare for races was by going to race on a weekend. However, in the modern era of NASCAR racing, iRacing, and simulation play a huge role in laying out the strategy or the plans for the weekend. Now, it is hard for the Cup drivers to put in those extra hours, and this is where guys like Alfredo put in those hard yards.

Alfredo is a racer himself, driving the No. 5 Chevy for Our Motorsports in the Xfinity Series. So he is more than just a computer geek who knows what it means to compete in a real environment. Kyle Larson and Corey LaJoie were speaking about his freak accident in Atlanta last weekend. And how Larson would need the practical experience to gain his confidence back on the track rather than a simulator.

This is when the HMS star mentioned Alfredo in acknowledging his hard work. “Anthony Alfredo logs some hours, I think. He’s our MVP for sure. Thank you, Anthony Alfredo,” Larson said on the Stacking Pennie podcast. That is indeed huge praise coming from a superstar driver like Kyle Larson. This was indeed a touching gesture for the Xfinity driver, who then penned down a heartfelt note.

“Having the guy who’s considered the greatest driver in the world say I’m an MVP at @TeamHendrick is a compliment I don’t take for granted. A lot of talented men and women work extremely hard to make HMS the powerhouse that it is. I am proud to be a small part of it. Much respect, @KyleLarsonRacin 🤝.” Alfredo shared this via his X account.

On the show, Larson was also asked about his chances going into the playoffs and teams he considers a genuine threat to his title ambitions. While everyone was expecting him to reignite his rivalry with Denny Hamlin, he ditched the JGR veteran in singling out the two Penske drivers.

Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano are real contenders going into the playoffs, says Larson

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Team Penske and the Ford camp have found a secret formula to turn up during the playoffs since the rollout of the Next Gen car. Joey Logano won the championship in 2022, and the next year his teammate Ryan Blaney brought the trophy back home. So naturally, they are the frontrunners when it comes to elimination format in the later stages of the season. Well, the Penske drivers did sweep the first race in Atlanta; Blaney and Austin Cindric won the stages, whereas Logano advanced to the next round with a victory.

Sharing his prediction about the strong drivers and team in the playoffs, Larson added, “You guys, for sure, the 12 team. You guys are always really good, especially in the playoffs. And you can’t count out Joey, like when the pressure’s on, he’s extremely good. Yeah, Tyler, for sure; I mean, as long as they can stay consistent, you can be competitive.”

It is fair to say that Larson has some ground to make after ending his first playoff race with a DNF finish. With just two races left in the first round, the #5 team will need to avoid crashes and wrecks and put out solid performances.