Kyle Larson Labelled ‘Hypocrite’ by Fans Moments After Suspiciously Spinning Championship Contender

Kyle Larson entered the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season with high expectations, and he delivered. Delivered the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, Larson secured three victories, including a notable win at Kansas Speedway, where he led 221 of 267 laps and managed tire wear concerns to clinch the AdventHealth 400. His performance was characterized by consistency, with 16 top-10 finishes and an average starting position of 12.9. Despite these achievements, Larson’s season was also marked by on-track incidents that sparked controversy and debate among fans and competitors alike.

Throughout the season, Larson found himself at the center of several on-track clashes. During the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona on August 23, 2025, Larson aggressively bumped against Erik Jones, which caused the latter to lose the lead late in the race and fall to a fifth-place finish, impacting his playoff hopes. Additionally, during the Bowman Gray race, Larson’s comments about his performance in micro races, saying, “No.. I lost two micro races at the Tulsa Shootout, and I lost the ‘Race of Champions’. I think I’m 50 percent, though (laughs),” were met with skepticism, highlighting the pressures and expectations placed on him as a top driver. But the Gateway race has just intensified the hatred, with many calling him a “hypocrite.”

The drama unfolded late in Stage 2 at the World Wide Technology Raceway 2025 as Kyle Larson made contact with Ryan Blaney in Turn 3 with 6 laps remaining. This setback not only affected his points standing but also his momentum heading into critical elimination races. The intensity at Gateway continued to escalate after the Chase Elliott and Josh Berry crash on Lap 36. Kyle Larson’s incident with Ryan Blaney added another layer of drama with both the Hendrick Motorsports cars involved in a wreck in the same race. The collision sent Blaney sideways, disrupting his momentum and damaging the car enough to affect his track position for the remainder of the stage.

Before the Gateway race, Ryan Blaney was in a strong position in the playoffs, ranked 7th with 22 points above the cutline for advancing to the next round. Driving the No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang, Blaney secured two victories, including a dominant performance at Nashville Superspeedway, where he led 139 laps and clinched the Cracker Barrel 400. Throughout the season, Blaney maintained a strong presence in the standings, consistently finishing in the top 10 and demonstrating his competitiveness across various tracks. Even with a spine-chilling wreck at the Gateway, Blaney managed to finish 4th ahead of the next stage at Bristol.

The fanbase was sharply divided following the Gateway incident. While some defended Larson’s aggressive approach as part of racing, others criticized him for what they perceived as hypocritical behavior, given his previous complaints about similar tactics used by others.

Fans erupt over Larson’s controversial move

One noted sarcastically, “”When is Larson going to stop wrecking my race cars?” ~every owner in the garage but Hendrick. That’s how this works, right? Right?!” capturing the perception that Larson approached the move with little margin for error. For instance, during the 2025 Coca-Cola 600, Larson was involved in a multi-car incident that ended his race early. Even his attempt to complete the “Double” this year ended in disappointment after crashes in both events. These incidents have led fans to question the consistency of NASCAR’s enforcement of racing standards, especially when it comes to high-profile drivers like Larson.

The two HMS incidents sparked broader debates about racing etiquette and playoff strategy, as one fan commented, “The hypocrisy of Hendrick camp. These are the same guys who cried because other drivers were too aggressive and they’ve now caused 2 wrecks.” Critics also pointed out that Larson’s aggressive approach mirrored similar tactics he had criticized in other drivers. HMS has faced criticism for its aggressive driving tactics throughout 2025. Even during the Cook Out Southern 500, Chase Elliott‘s team employed a short-pitting strategy that backfired, resulting in a 17th-place finish, and fans criticized them for poor pit crew strategy.

Some other observers framed the wreck in the context of playoff implications rather than just raw aggression. One fan argued, “I mean it doesn’t get more intentional than that, Larson washed?” but also suggested that Blaney could leverage Larson’s move in future races strategically. But this perspective is not isolated. For instance, during the Goodyear 400 at Darlington, Larson’s abrupt deacceleration in Turn 3, which led to a collision with Bubba Wallace, was also met with skepticism from fans who questioned his intentions. But for the incident with Blaney, officials monitored the incident closely, but no immediate penalty was issued, leaving teams and fans debating whether Larson’s move was calculated or reckless.

Some fans also brought up that one quote from Larson, which is used against him after every controversial move, saying, “Worlds Greatest Driver once again.” His assertion that he is a superior all-around driver to Max Verstappen ignited a spirited debate within the motorsport community, and it continues to surround him to this day. While another fan added, “wanted to make sure blaney could hear him.” It echoed a notorious moment from the 2018 Advance Auto Parts Clash, where Larson made contact with Jimmie Johnson, triggering a multi-car wreck that also collected Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch.

Fans and analysts continue to compare these incidents, speculating if Larson’s maneuvers were deliberate attempts to send a message to his competitors.