“Bummed” Kyle Larson Unravels of Having Mixed Emotions of His Teammate’s Success for Hendrick Motorsports

Published 04/14/2024, 2:25 AM EDT

Sometimes, rivalries can break out between teammates as well. Here we are speaking about an extremely healthy rivalry in the NASCAR world between two members of the winningest team. You guessed it right; we are mentioning Hendrick Motorsports superstars Kyle Larson and William Byron. Both drivers are running riots in the ongoing Cup Series season. Byron emerged victorious on three occasions, while Larson received the checkered flag twice.

However, Larson opened up about an incident when he was envious of his teammate’s success. Let’s get into the details.

Kyle Larson mentions an incident when he was mad at William Byron

Ahead of the Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, pole winner Kyle Larson had an interactive session with the media. A reporter asked him about his feelings about witnessing HMS break records day in and day out. Larson expressed that it was remarkable. He also mentioned an incident from last year’s Texas race where his teammate William Byron bummed him for a win. Notably, in that race, it was Larson who dominated throughout.

Larson said, “And then you even being out there on the opposite side of things, you know. With William winning 300 last year, like here at Texas. I was obviously super bummed because I was dominating the race and lost. But at the same point, I was really happy for the team. Even last week, you know, I’m obviously bummed, I didn’t win, but super super happy for the team.”

Article continues below this ad

The #5 driver mentioned that whenever he realized that his name was going to be the next in the milestone number, he found it particularly special. When he had the opportunity to contribute to that victory, the feeling was akin to being part of the excitement and happiness emanating from Rick and everyone who had been associated with the organization for an extended period.

Article continues below this ad

“And especially this year being the 40th season for Hendrick Motorsports and it’s kind of yeah, definitely weird. Like there’s these milestones are all kind of coming up right now. And it’s just cool to get 250 and you feel like I’m contributing to the record books at Hendrick,” he added.

NASCAR’s diversity program and the fruits of its labor

Kyle Larson believed that the current success was a result of the diversity of drivers being equipped with high-quality gear. While good equipment was essential in motorsport, it also required significant investment. Recently, they seemed to have managed that investment effectively. Over the past few years, they have worked hard to ensure their drivers have access to top-notch resources.

Article continues below this ad

Larson enthusiastically supported his fellow drivers, celebrating their achievements when they secured pole positions or wins. Undoubtedly, such successes were beneficial for the entire program. This program strives to create an inclusive environment in all facets of the NASCAR industry. They do that by recognizing the value of diversity, which allows them to go faster and farther in our workplaces, at the race track, and in the stands.

We hope this program helps foster new talents who can later emerge as tomorrow’s superstars. Maybe they can surpass the likes of Byron and Larson in the upcoming days.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Mamata Mukherjee is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. Combining her love for writing and motorsports she has created some interesting and in-depth stories on drivers like Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joining ES with 3 years of experience in the field of writing, Mamata feels right at home in her role as a NASCAR Journalist.

Edited by:

Shivali Nathta