As the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 team reels under NASCAR’s wrath, their driver is taking it easy. Kyle Larson was slapped with a penalty recently for illegal adjustments at the Talladega qualifying race. The trouble got magnified by another piece of bad news: Larson’s car chief bid adieu.

However, the Las Vegas winner chooses comedy instead of despair to vent his emotions. Recently, he tickled some bigwigs with a hilarious reference to a NASCAR veteran on X.

Kyle Larson uses a blast from the past to jest about his Talladega misfortune

Hendrick Motorsports have been in NASCAR’s bad books before. Last year in March, their purses were drained in a costly penalty affair. However, the No. 5 driver, Kyle Larson, had managed to steer clear of trouble since 2018, until today. His crew were caught red-handed tinkering with his car and accordingly stripped down to a smaller size.

Kyle Larson grabbed this opportunity to joke about his deserted team. He posted two relevant pictures of the legendary independent NASCAR driver, Morgan Shephard. Larson tweeted alongside: “Me today since half our team is kicked out.” This apt reference to a 23-year-old race in 2001 made the NASCAR community giggle. 

The Keselowski brothers were prompt to hail the veteran Larson referred to. Brad commented, “I was there for this. Epic”. Brian said, “I was at this race working on pit road when he did this. Best part was when he ate a sandwich on pit road wall and drank a coke. Ole Morgan”.

One fan also quipped, “If you do this it will be legendary”.

Then others took sly digs at Kyle Larson. Journalist Phil Spain tickled Larson’s suspension itch. “Make sure you get the lug tight, can’t be risking anymore suspensions”.

Another NASCAR fan cracked a cruel joke about Larson’s penalty-driven free time. “About time you did something other than sit around  all Sunday.”

NASCAR on NBC significantly reminded people about the time when Shepard had his iconic photos taken. They tweeted, “In 2001, Morgan Shepherd got out of his truck and changed tires during a pit stop.”

Although Kyle Larson’s crew was cut short on a penalty, Morgan Shepherd intentionally kept his crew less. He was the true hands-on NASCAR driver.

Shepherd believed in hand-to-mouth racing

Trending

Racing Community Goes Berserk as Tony Stewart Drops Surprising ‘Fans Double’ Announcement Amidst Indy Return

May 03, 2024 01:47 PM EDT

Denny Hamlin Reveals the Harsh Reality That Awaits NASCAR At the End of 2024 – “We Just Wouldn’t Show up”

May 02, 2024 06:55 AM EDT

Dale Earnhardt Jr Drops an Expletive Bomb as He Turns the Tables on Cup Teams Financial Outcry

May 03, 2024 08:19 AM EDT

Michael Jordans’ Entrepreneurial Drive Could Potentially Be the End of 23XI and Denny Hamlin’s Dream

May 02, 2024 10:39 AM EDT

NASCAR Fans Claim Tony Stewart and SHR ‘Fu**ed Up’ by Nearly Causing Multiple Accidents in Dover

May 02, 2024 04:50 PM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NASCAR stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Morgan Shepherd led a rough childhood in poverty. He only ever knew one thing: cars. He could take apart and reassemble an engine by the age of 11. He made 505 starts in his 25-cup career and mostly survived without sponsors. As a result, his crew members were also dwindling. 

Shepherd said in a 2004 interview, “I can’t even believe I work as hard as I do day and night to try to make this happen and without any money. The only money we operate on is the money we get at the racetrack.”

At present, Shepherd is 82 years old. The photos Kyle Larson used were when he was just crossing 60. At that time, Shepherd was notorious for trying to do everything himself, from building cars to changing his own tires.

Now that Kyle Larson is facing a somewhat similar situation, do you think he will match Shepherd’s independent mindset?