The debate over NASCAR Cup Series drivers competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series has been reignited following Kyle Larson’s dominant performance at Bristol, where he led 277 of 300 laps. Larson made headlines with his candid comments about why he races in the development series: to embarrass the field and raise the bar for up-and-coming drivers.
This bold stance has found strong support from NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick, who believes Cup drivers in Xfinity are essential for the sport’s health and the development of its future stars.
Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson: Setting the Standard for Development
Right now, NASCAR only lets Cup Series drivers race in five Xfinity events each year. Both Larson and Harvick think this rule hurts driver development. NASCAR created these limits to give younger drivers better chances to win races and attract sponsors. But critics say this makes it harder to know which drivers are truly ready for the big leagues.
Larson didn’t hold back when explaining his motivation: “I want to embarrass NASCAR a little bit because they just don’t let Cup guys run anymore, and the kids probably think they’re in a good spot, and they don’t know where the bar is really at.”
He added, “I like to go run those Xfinity races and get 10-second leads to let them realize that they’ve got a lot of room to improve. I think that’s only better for our sport.”
Larson believes racing against the best helps young drivers grow faster: “When those young guys can compete with Cup guys, they’re better suited for the Cup Series once they get there. Yes, I want to smash the field when I run Xfinity, so that’s motivating for me, for sure.”
On his “Happy Hour” podcast, Kevin Harvick strongly backed Larson’s view. He remembered his own days coming up when 20-25 Cup drivers would regularly race in Xfinity events.
“They teach you where to run on the racetrack, they teach you that you can drive your car harder, they teach you that you can run down pit road faster, they teach you all the things that you need to be taught,” Harvick explained.
"It teaches them how to do things the right way."- @kevinharvick agrees with Kyle Larson when he says more Cup drivers should be in Xfinity Series races. pic.twitter.com/hkRWDimXyt
— HarvickHappyHour (@HarvickHappyPod) April 15, 2025
Harvick believes the current rules have “dumbed it down and made everybody worse.” He thinks having Cup drivers in the field provides young racers with a reality check. “Having those drivers in the Truck and Xfinity races … it also teaches them how to do things the right way. Apparently, that’s on Kyle Larson’s agenda.”
The veteran racer didn’t stop there: “We get tired of seeing [Cup drivers] win, but it also teaches them how to do things the right way. Let them race, bring them back, put the Cup guys in the Xfinity Series. You’re going to bring sponsors back, you’re going to bring more fans to the track. Who cares if the Xfinity guys aren’t winning?”
With two of NASCAR’s biggest stars pushing this message, the debate about Cup drivers in Xfinity races isn’t going away anytime soon.