Many young NASCAR drivers of this decade and the past have looked up to a few iconic names in the sport’s history and idolized them in their own racing careers. For Kyle Larson, the list of his all-time top-3 drivers is quite certainly interesting.

The newly recruited Hendrick Motorsports driver names the team’s most successful man Jimmie Johnson in that elite list. Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon also featured in his list, completing his top three.

In an earlier interview, Larson briefly explains why he elected to pick these three famed racing legends. At the same time, he was disheartened that he had to leave out the likes of Dale Earnhardt and Kyle Busch from the list.

Kyle Larson lauds the ‘spectacular’ contributions of the three men

Speaking in the interview, Larson stated, “Yeah I think top three for NASCAR for sure for me would be, I think Jeff up there, Tony and I hate to leave out Dale senior. But Jimmie Johnson to me is amazing. It stinks that you allowed me only three because Kyle Busch is obviously really good as well.”

Johnson naturally was the reigning supremo in the post-2000s era, with his seven Cup Series titles.

Gordon really came into his own, surging dominantly in the late 1990s. Meanwhile, Stewart also competed fiercely to win three titles of his own in a similar timeframe.

“But you know I think a lot of Jimmie, Jeff and Tony, just their styles and all that. And what they’ve done for the sport has been pretty spectacular. So those would be my three NASCAR guys,” concluded Larson in response to the question.

The new Hendrick star will want to start 2021 impressively

Larson, alongside new teammate Chase Elliott, will compete in the Chili Bowl Nationals tournament scheduled to take place in January 2021. The Hendrick No.5 won the event in 2020 and is seeking to defend his dirt track racing crown.

More importantly, he has to ensure he is ready by February when the all-important Daytona 500 arrives.

Larson will focus on making the best start possible and hope to have a fruitful 2021 Cup Series season.

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