“Haven’t Quite Figured Them Out”: Kyle Larson Unravels His New-Found Interest Dirt Late Models

Published 01/07/2024, 2:36 AM EST

When one’s doubts get cleared, the enthusiasm to revisit them might fade over time, and Kyle Larson knows it very well as he unraveled the rationale behind his afresh interest in the Dirt Late Models. He made his Dirt Late debut in January 2023 but missed the title and is naturally motivated to take it home the next time.

Ever since the 2023 season ended with the last race held at the Phoenix Raceway on November 6th, the Hendrick Motorsports star is seemingly getting bored from not racing. In a bid to beat the off-season boredom, polish his racing skills, and ace the race, Larson is eyeing his second straight year at the Wild West Shootout as he begins his 2024 season with the Dirt Late Models race.

Kyle Larson’s untapped ‘unique models’ that pull him back

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Kyle Larson sacrificed the 2023 Chili Bowl, a league to which he’s dedicated half of his 30-year-old life, to debut in the Dirt Late Models Wild West Shootout. Even though Larson managed to pull off impressive outcomes through six nights of intense racing, the points remained insufficient to secure the P1 spot.

Despite the 2023 season being his debut stint at the Dirt Late Models, Larson’s impressive run secured five top-5s and a sixth-place finish. The only driver to outperform Larson was Jonathan Davenport, who also had the same stats as the HMS driver but scored more owing to his wins during the initial three nights.

Nevertheless, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion is steadfast in his belief to explore all the aspects of Dirt Late Models as he returns to the Vado Speedway Park. Larson unfurled his new-found interest in the Series and said, “Late Models are cool, they’re really unique vehicles, and I haven’t quite figured them out, so that’s what I think keeps me entertained enough to want to keep running them.”

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Larson is all set to try his hands once more at the Dirt Late Models and has already secured a promising P5 finish on Day 1 despite starting way back in P14. But the point of concern is how the HMS star will keep up with the races owing to his stuffed 2024 schedule.

Larson’s 2024 schedule is not for the faint-hearted

70 races in the 2024 season. That’s insane, right!? Where other drivers and crew members complained about the burnout factor in the 36-race NASCAR schedule, Larson, on the other hand, is eyeing a lot more.

In addition to the 38 Cup Series races on the calendar, the #5 Chevrolet driver has the Indy 500, 20 sprint car races, and 12 late model races to compete in, making his proactive participation in the Dirt Late Models a cumbersome affair.

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Even though Larson’s 2024 schedule is packed, he portrayed his inclination for the Dirt Late Models as he told FloRacing, “There will definitely be less Late Model races that I get to run this year just because my Sprint Car schedule is so busy … and May in Indy…like, my schedule is crazy this coming year. Yeah, unfortunately there’s less Late Model races this year, but I’ll still hit 15 of them, which is better than nothing I guess.”

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From January to November, Larson would be competing in nearly 70 races, which equates to one race every 4.5 days, and honestly, that’s a lot! Do you think Larson will be able to cross the 15-race mark in the Dirt Late Models despite a tightly packed 2024 calendar?

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Written by:

During my teenage years, the thunderous symphony of Formula 1's V8s and the explosive crack of NASCAR's pistol shot became the soundtrack of my adrenaline-fueled existence. The relentless roars of engines, accompanied by the screeches of tires, ignited a passion within me that couldn't be contained. The screen came alive with a captivating dance of aggression, passion, frustration, and celebration, keeping me on the edge of my seat.

Edited by:

Shivali Nathta

“Haven’t Quite Figured Them Out”: Kyle Larson Unravels His New-Found Interest Dirt Late Models

Kyle Larson’s untapped ‘unique models’ that pull him back

Larson’s 2024 schedule is not for the faint-hearted

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