Kyle Larson is on a roll! The NASCAR superstar has just won his second consecutive Knoxville Nationals and his third in the last four years. After grueling through the sprint car racing event, where he led all 50 laps of the feature event fending off challenges from some of the best drivers in the business, he came up victorious once again.

But it wasn’t all cheers and high-fives for Larson this time around as the usually adoring Knoxville crowd let out a smattering of boos alongside the cheers for the Hendrick Motorsports driver, leaving the rest of the NASCAR fandom a little confused. So what went wrong?

Kyle Larson dominates the Knoxville Nationals, AGAIN!

The race kicked off to a great start for Kyle Larson as he maneuvered his sprint car across the 50-lap circuit by taking the lead immediately, leaving behind tough competitors like Daryn Pittman and Giovanni Scelzi. This is no easy feat! Furthermore, he maintained his position even during a mid-race caution that briefly brought the pack together. All this without a tire change during the pit stop, which was a risky move but still pushed him to deliver a strong performance and, ultimately, win the race for the third time at the Knoxville Nationals!

However, his triumph was shortlived as the crowd gave Larson mixed reactions of excitement and disappointment, which was a first for him at this particular event, where he thrived on the tracks to achieve the number one position more than once. His performance was nothing short of perfect. The Hendrick Motorsports champ tackled every obstacle along his way despite choosing not to change tires at the pit stop!

Larson ran through the entire race while facing pressure from Scelzi, who finished second, and young driver Corey Day, who rounded out the podium after a remarkable run from 11th to 3rd. In spite of all that, Larson was able to maintain his lead. Even if some fans did not resonate with his victory, he showed the crowd that he was skilled at navigating tricky track conditions come what may.

He acknowledged the disgruntled part of the crowd by saying that he would have to put on a show to win over the fans from now on. But maybe it would take a little more than his performance to win them over as fans on social media acknowledge that there may be other reasons for him getting booed.

Here’s what the fans had to say

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Kyle Larson’s victory at the Knoxville Nationals has set the racing world abuzz on social media platforms, with fans sharing their thoughts on the driver’s dominant performance but lack of ‘not winning.’ Some also hinted towards his ‘Golden Boy of NASCAR’ persona, which he has gained in the eyes of the fraternity, especially after NASCAR gave him a waiver. Let’s just say that the reactions are as diverse as the cars on the track.

One fan suggested that people might simply be tired of seeing him win so frequently or have just developed a dislike for him, “Maybe they’re just tired of him? Or they just don’t like him,” indicating that the problem runs a little deeper than he might think.

Another fan suggested that the mixed reactions stem from Larson being “gifted the pole with a pill draw,” implying that his starting position was more about luck than skill. Now, this is a common debate in racing based on how much success can be determined by a driver’s ability versus factors like starting position and race strategy.

A netizen shared their admiration for Larson, but added, “I just boo the name on his chest. Hendrick 🤢,” not so subtly hinting at the complex relationship between fans and the teams drivers represent. As for some, Larson’s affiliation with Hendrick Motorsports may evoke feelings of resentment, especially, among fans who prefer underdog stories or rival teams. To back this up, another fan wrote, “Hard not to boo the cheat code on his fire suit! 🙄”

Concerns about favoritism also surfaced, with one fan noting, “Probably because he gets special treatment. He missed the driver’s meeting. Should be starting at the end.” This shows that Larson may not be held to the same standards as other drivers and fuels the narrative that he has a greater advantage.

There were also some comparisons of fans calling Larson “the new Jeff Gordon,” suggesting that some see him as a dominant figure in the sport, much like Gordon was during his time. While this can be seen as a compliment, it also hints at a frustration with Larson’s potential to overshadow other drivers.

Lastly, a fan raised a much more critical point about Larson’s involvement in the sport, stating, “Isn’t part owner in the series? Never a good look when you race in and win a lot in your own series. It’s like racing and winning at a track you own.” This reflects a bigger concern about conflicts of interest, where a driver’s double role as a competitor and part-owner could lead to perceived biases in race outcomes.

In the end, while many fans can’t help but admire his incredible talent and impressive track record, others raised reasonable concerns about fairness in the sport, which is something Larson may just have gotten used to by now. Whether you’re cheering him on or booing him from the stands, one thing is clear: Kyle Larson knows how to be the topic of conversations.