Kyle Larson is on a different level right now, and honestly, he knows it. After completely dominating the field at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend, the Hendrick Motorsports driver dropped a line that has the entire NASCAR world buzzing: “I want to embarrass them.”
That statement was quite bold. But after watching what he pulled off, it doesn’t sound all that crazy.
Total Domination at Bristol by Kyle Larson
In the Cup Series race on Sunday, Larson led 411 of the 500 laps. That’s not just a win — that’s a masterclass. And that wasn’t even it. He also won the Xfinity Series race the day before, where he led 276 out of 300 laps.
Across the two days, Larson led 687 out of the total 800 laps he raced. That’s 85%. The guy was untouchable. The only thing stopping him from sweeping the entire weekend was a second-place finish in the Truck Series race.
Now sure, some fans thought the race was boring. It was not very exciting or action-filled, and it kind of felt like a one-man parade. But Larson was having the time of his life. And watching him out there, it really looked like Larson was just in a league of his own.
Why Kyle Larson Runs Xfinity
So why does a Cup champion like Larson still bother running in Xfinity races? He explained it all on Kevin Harvick’s “Happy Hour” podcast, and he didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Not really in the Truck side of things but in Xfinity, I do get motivated, and this is going to come across very cocky, but I want to embarrass them,” he admitted.
He meant the younger drivers. Larson thinks a lot of them don’t realize just how high the bar really is because Cup drivers don’t race as much in Xfinity anymore. NASCAR only lets Cup drivers do five races a year in Xfinity or Trucks, so it’s rare to see someone like Larson drop in. And when he does, he drops a 10-second lead on the field like it’s nothing.
He further admitted, “The kids probably think they’re in a good spot. They don’t know where the bar is really at. So, I like to go and run those Xfinity races and just get 10-second leads to let them realize that they got a lot of room to improve. And I think that’s only better for our sport. You know, when those young guys can compete with Cup guys, they’re better suited for the Cup Series once they get there.”
This is not just about ego, but Larson genuinely thinks this is good for the sport. He believes that when younger drivers race against Cup veterans, they get better. They learn, they grow, and they find out where they really stand.
He later again said, “Yes, I want to smash the field when I run Xfinity. That’s motivating for me, for sure.”
Larson might sound cocky, but he’s got the skills to back it up. He’s not just winning races — he’s setting a standard. And if that means embarrassing a few people along the way? So be it. Because right now, nobody’s doing it like Larson.