Despite being a Cup Series Champion, Kyle Larson has maintained a saga forged in the dust and clay of America’s dirt tracks, often running 80 races per year. This dual commitment elevates him beyond the title of stock-car star to a universally acclaimed ‘wheelman.’ But along with that, it also brings an unwanted image. The perception that premier NASCAR drivers also prefer other forms of racing, or are motivated purely by financial gain. For someone who’s far away from this reality, such false accusations could truly hit a nerve, which could be why the Hendrick Motorsports driver directly addressed this common assumption.

Kyle Larson explains the underrated cost of his NASCAR commitment

Larson emphatically stated, “Well, I don’t really know why everybody assumes that I wanted to leave NASCAR. I feel like that’s always been something that’s bugged me throughout my whole career is that, you know, everybody just assumes I’m here for the money, and that’s not the case at all.”

The pushback is significant, given the narrative often surrounding his extensive dirt racing schedule, including co-owning the successful Kubota High Limit Racing sprint car series. Even an icon and mentor like Tony Stewart once suggested that if money were equal, Larson would likely choose sprint cars full-time.

“If the money was equal – and I’m not going to speak for Kyle (Larson) and Kyle and I have never had this conversation – but I feel very confident in this statement that if the money was equal, that Kyle Larson would be in a sprint car, not in a Cup car,” Stewart had said back in April. But Larson elaborated on his genuine attachment to the sport and the notion that he is only involved for the paycheck.

He clarified, “I would not be here if I did not want to be a NASCAR. I love the sport. I love what it provides, sure. But I love what I’m doing. You know, if I wanted to go race my cars full-time, I would have done that a long time ago.” During his 2020 suspension period from NASCAR, Larson returned to his roots and ran an unprecedented number of races on dirt tracks, dominating the short track landscape and racking up victories across various series.

Ironically, Larson’s insistence that he isn’t in NASCAR “for the money” carries even more weight when you consider that he’s one of the sport’s top earners. Multiple reports place his annual salary from Hendrick Motorsports at around $8 million, rising to nearly $10 million with endorsements and bonuses. Yet despite those figures, he continues to chase dirt track races for passion, not profit.

This period demonstrated that he can race his own cars full-time and thrive, yet he actively worked for reinstatement and returned to the Cup Series in 2021 with Hendrick Motorsports. His 2021 Championship win, where he notched 10 victories, proved his commitment and love for the top level of stock car competition.

Plus, that sentiment isn’t new for Larson. It’s something he’s reiterated multiple times over the years. Back in May on the 12 Questions Podcast, when asked what people often got wrong about him, Larson expressed a similar frustration, saying, “People back in the day used to get wrong that I didn’t care about NASCAR. I still think people think, ‘Oh, I’m just doing this for the money and if I had a choice, I’d be racing sprint cars all the time.’ That really bugs me, because it isn’t about the money. I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t love it, you know? So I do love this. I wish fans would realize that. And I feel like they have over time, but not all of them, and you’re never going to convince everybody.”

But Pockrass then sought to pinpoint the core motivation, asking what he liked specifically, whether the appeal or just the whole process.

Larson’s response cut straight to the simplicity of his drive, stating, “I just like doing it. If I wasn’t having fun, I’d be gone. I would not try to come back in 2020. So, yeah, I don’t know. I shouldn’t have to explain what I like about it. I love racing. Some people just love racing.” His successful return and subsequent Championship 4 appearance highlight a fierce, fundamental love for the high-stakes, demanding competitive environment of the Cup Series.

Acknowledging that some peers and observers might be solely focused on winning on the biggest stage, Larson provided a nuanced perspective that integrates his diverse racing interests. He explained, “For me, I think I get to compete in NASCAR, and I love doing that. And I also get to compete in 30 to 40 different races a year. So, I feel like it’s a great balance for me.”

For instance, his ambitious ‘Hendrick 1100’ endeavor of the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 was a testament to drive and conquer the biggest challenges across different disciplines. Ultimately, Larson consolidated his reasons for remaining firmly entrenched in the premier stock car series, framing it as an opportunity too good to walk away from.

He summarized, “I get to compete in a lot of the big races, the races that mean a lot to me and mean a lot to the sport, NASCAR, as well as, yeah, every big race in NASCAR. I get to compete for a championship every year for the best team. So, why would I ever give that up?”

Driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for HMS offers him a perennial chance at a title, an opportunity few drivers ever achieve. However, the pressure seems high once again as Phoenix approaches.

Why Kyle Larson believes 2025 is his best shot yet at a Next Gen Championship

Rewind to 2021, a year when Kyle Larson and the No. 5 car were untouchable. 10 wins, a championship, and a sense that NASCAR’s next dynasty had just begun. But as the sport transitioned into the Next Gen era, that dominance suddenly met resistance. The new car equalized the field, and Larson found himself wrestling with setups and short-track packages that refused to cooperate.

Now, as the 2025 finale nears, Larson’s confidence feels different. “I think finally in the Next-Gen era, I think we’ve gotten our short-track stuff better. Short flat track package better,” Larson said. This year, he’s shown flashes of his old form, particularly at Bristol, where he led 411 of 500 laps and swept all stages, a performance that hinted his team finally solved part of the puzzle.

Momentum has followed him to tracks that mirror Phoenix‘s layout. “I think, we went to Gateway and were super strong. New Hampshire, we were really good and Phoenix is somewhat similar to those places,” Larson noted. Despite a rare winless stretch since May, the 2021 champ carries the kind of belief only experience can build.

“I think we’ll have a better opportunity to win the championship than we’ve ever had in the Next Gen era,” he said, a statement that sounds less like hope and more like conviction.