Kyle Larson fetched himself his first 2024 win at Las Vegas, and his crew chief got his back. Together the duo outsmarted Tyler Reddick’s struggles to get the lead. Larson used the air to his advantage to win, although Cliff Daniels tipped his hat to Reddick’s extraordinary efforts.

Besides his remarkable victory at Vegas this year, Larson has time and again proved himself to be a veteran NASCAR driver. But one speedway has haunted him since time immemorial. Until, of course, he conquered it and dissolved his fears. Daniels recently shed light on this situation.

Kyle Larson faced his fears in Martinsville

The NASCAR legend lacked confidence when it came to navigating through the Martinsville Speedway effectively. The fear of not performing well on the track, derived from his previous experiences, was something he absolutely dreaded. 

But his nightmare ended last year. And with a resounding bang! Recently, Larson’s crew chief Cliff Daniels recollected the tear-jerker victory they achieved last year in Martinsville. At first, Daniels detailed his own connection to the track. “It was so unexpected…I got a little emotional after the race, I’ve been going to Martinsville Speedway since I was literally a baby. My dad used to race light models there, and I’d always go to the Big Taco Bell 300 race there…that was very special for me as a kid, I grew up roughly 4 hours away from there”.

Then Daniels described Kyle Larson’s disposition. “For Kyle, the track was kind of his nemesis, so to speak. ‘I’m no good here, I haven’t had good results here, I don’t know how to get around this place’.”

Larson grabbed that jittery mindset by the neck and ran inside the top ten for the major part of the NOCO 400 race in Martinsville. Then a final caution was his chance when he took a crucial two-tire strategy call with Daniels. Larson fought out Joey Logano to grab the checkered flag at his dreaded race track in the end.

Larson shared his feelings post-race, “I was teared up the whole last lap. I heard Cliff (Daniels) was teared up too. So that feels really, really special because he is so strong and, like, emotionally strong. To hear that means a lot.”

Now that he has harnessed confidence to face his nemesis, Kyle Larson can boldly face the track again for his team.

Larson and teammates set to honor Hendrick’s team

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Martinsville turned special for Kyle Larson only recently. But for Hendrick Motorsport, the Speedway marked the then-fledgling team’s first landmark win by Geoff Bodine 40 years back. Hence this year, all four Hendrick drivers will commemorate the occasion with ruby-red paint schemes. Rick Hendrick will drive the pace car, while Bodine and Jeff Gordon will act as co-grand marshals.

“This year being the 40th anniversary, Martinsville (Speedway) has been talked about a lot – more of the first win side of things,” Kyle Larson said. “Before I got here, I knew what Martinsville meant to Hendrick Motorsports. Once I got here, though, you feel it more than you had heard.”

Larson may yet again conquer the track, which was an abode of nightmares for him less than a year ago. The race will flag off on the 0.526-mile track this year on April 7.

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