2021 and 2022 were deeply contrasting years for Kyle Larson and Hendrick Motorsports. From lacking consistency in the Cup Series to a highly controversial wreck (and fistfight); the year had it all. But most of all was his withdrawal from an event he had years of history with.

On David Gravel’s YouTube show, Larson discussed one of the controversies of 2022 – his withdrawal from the Chili Bowl 2023. A fan had asked him why he wasn’t racing the Chili Bowl, and Larson gave an elaborate justification for his move.

Kyle Larson clears the air

“Yeah, I think a lot of talk has been because of how much it pays not only to win but the purse,” he started. “But honestly, that’s one of many reasons why I’m not running. I’m 30 years old and I’ve raced in the Chili Bowl 15 years. So half my life I’ve raced at the Chili Bowl and I’m still young. I would say that’s the main reason. I just want to do something different.”

It’s not as if Larson races just for the sake of it. He explained, “I’ve won it now twice. I just wanna experience another race. Or I don’t even have to race that week.” Larson also told Gravel, “Honestly, if Katelyn wasn’t having a baby this time of the year, I wanted to go on vacation during the Chili Bowl. Just go do something different.”

A vacation, however, was not possible.“But she just had a baby and I felt like we couldn’t go to a vacation anywhere so I was like “I’ll go race a Late Model then.” So yeah I’m excited about running a Late Model.” 

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For most outsiders, the biggest qualm with Larson’s withdrawal had been the allegations of greed. But the purse hardly scraped the surface, as he said.

“Deserve to earn what they’re worth”

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But Larson did not shy away from telling Gravel, and the thousands who had tuned in to listen, that the purse was also a reason. He also clarified that wasn’t insignificant; it had great importance. But not for selfish reasons.

“Obviously, the purse is definitely a reason why,” Larson said. But he explained, “To a lot of people, I guess I seem selfish mentioning that but it’s really not about me. Like it could pay more or less or whatever. But for me, I’m trying to raise awareness to the fact that it pays so poorly to benefit the other teams.” 

He went into the depth of his reasoning and logic. “To benefit the teams that spend thousands of dollars just to get to the Chili Bowl. I feel like if you make the main event, you must at least be able to break even. If you finish second, you’re not breaking even at the Chili Bowl.”

15 years of participation at the Chili Bowl brought Larson very close to Emmett Hahn and the Hahn family. But the withdrawal was a contentious and very public souring of that relationship. Larson touched on that too.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always felt that Emmett and the whole Hahn family deserves to make a lot of money on the event because they’ve risked and sacrificed a lot. But I think just the cost of everything has gone up in the last couple of years, and the purse has not.”

He finally wrapped up his answer: “It kind of irks me that people think that it’s about me. It’s not at all. It’s about raising awareness to hopefully see a change to benefit the teams who’re ultimately the ones who are putting the show on. At least the main event starters, they deserve to get to earn what they’re worth.”

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what Larson has to say, or his justification still might now convince some people. But he does offer some crucial thoughts to ruminate on. Do you agree?