Crew Chief Reveals How Dirt Racing Background Made Him Unsure of Relationship With Kyle Larson

The incredible season of Kyle Larson in the NASCAR Cup Series had many factors in making it what it was. Yes, Larson himself is largely responsible as a driver in winning all that he did, and yes, his car was also important. But there’s one other person, without whom the champion might not have become a champion after all.

That person is his crew chief, Cliff Daniels.

Daniels was undoubtedly instrumental in his driver’s success. But, he recently revealed that both of them didn’t start off on the same page. At the NASCAR Annual awards in Phoenix, Daniels recalled how their different backgrounds and their racing roots made him a little sceptical about what turned out to be quite a special connection.

Speaking of a special connection, he responded to the question of that subject between him and his driver, Daniels said, “I don’t know, it was kinda hard to say at first.” 

“Just trying to get to know each other, my background was in late model race east and he was dirt cars out west. So, pretty far apart as far as that goes.”

However, he explained that just that their common passion for racing superseded any such differences between the two. He said, “It was a lot of fun, just to learn each other and get to know each other, how we both have a very common passion for racing. Of course, we see with him racing dirt all over the country every week and competing at a high level every week.” 

“I’m so proud of him and the journey he’s been on to become a Cup champion here today.”

Dirt racing background caused an issue for Kyle Larson at Hendrick many years ago

Kyle Larson had revealed how a decade ago, Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon were sceptical of him because of his background in dirt racing.

“Everybody knows I love dirt racing, and he’s like, ‘You really need to get out of dirt cars. They’re going to teach you bad habits,’” Larson recalled, as reported by SportsCasting.

But the way things have turned out, it’s unquestionable that dirt racing has done nothing but help and make Larson a better racer. To the point where dirt racing could be one of the biggest factors in his present and future success.

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