Kyle Larson’s third NASCAR Cup Series win of 2025 at Kansas Speedway wasn’t just another victory — it was a masterclass in versatility. After surviving a chaotic sprint car race days earlier, the Hendrick Motorsports star dominated 221 of 267 laps, leaving rivals like Chase Briscoe in awe of his relentless approach.
Briscoe, who finished fourth in his Joe Gibbs Racing debut at Kansas, didn’t mince words post-race. The former dirt racer praised Larson, attributing his success to a rare blend of fearlessness and cross-disciplinary skill that redefines modern motorsport excellence.
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Briscoe’s praise stemmed from Larson’s ability to thrive in radically different racing environments. Days before Kansas, Larson competed in a sprint car event at Lakeside Speedway, surviving a wreck-filled night before shifting focus to NASCAR.
“Kyle’s an incredible race car driver. I always say he’s the greatest of all time,” Briscoe told Frontstretch. “He’s willing to risk it all, and he doesn’t even think about it. It definitely separates him.”
Briscoe argued that the 2021 Cup champion’s willingness to race “for $5,000 or $100,000” without hesitation sharpens instincts that translate to stock cars. Sprint car racing, with its 900 horsepower and 1,400-pound frames, demands split-second decisions at higher speeds than NASCAR’s Next Gen machines.
For Larson, transitioning between disciplines creates a perceptual edge.
“When I run the sprint car a lot, you come here, and it just feels like slow motion,” Briscoe said. “It feels slow. I mean, obviously, we’re going way faster. But just the rate of speed that things happen in a sprint car, and I’m sure an IndyCar as well — it makes this feel very slow.”
This contrast allows Larson to process NASCAR’s complexities with eerie calm. At Kansas, he lost the lead briefly to teammate Chase Elliott but reclaimed it decisively.
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Larson’s dominance has reignited discussions about NASCAR’s evolving technical landscape. While Next Gen cars produce 670 horsepower at 3,200 pounds, critics argue they lack the visceral challenge of lighter, faster machines like sprint cars. Briscoe’s comments underscored this gap.
The disparity highlights Larson’s adaptability. In 2024, Texas, he hit 190.36 mph in a Cup car, blistering by NASCAR standards but far below IndyCar or sprint car velocities. Yet, Briscoe noted that his ability to toggle between disciplines “separates him when he runs a sprint car or Indy car.”
NASCAR’s horsepower debate looms large. Officials have floated increasing output to 750 horsepower, but Larson’s success at current levels complicates the narrative.
“We’ll discuss it with drivers,” NASCAR’s Mike Forde said last week, but Larson’s dominance suggests raw skill outweighs mechanical constraints.
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Briscoe’s Kansas performance, climbing from 19th to fourth, mirrored Larson’s resilience. After early pit struggles, he avoided wrecks and capitalized on attrition.
“We found our magic,” he said. But the spotlight stayed on Larson, whose sprint car grit and Next Gen precision make him a dual threat.
In a sport balancing innovation and tradition, Larson’s secret might be simple: race everything, fear nothing.