Kyle Larson’s Rival Admits Suppressing Intentions to Wreck Him For Chili Bowl Win

There’s something about racing that stirs up the rawest of emotions—especially when the stakes are high, and the finish line is within sight. But for some drivers on the dirt oval at the Chili Bowl Nationals, it’s not just about winning; it’s about the principle how you win. Intrusive thoughts of desperate moves can creep in, especially when a driver like Kyle Larson is breathing down your neck. And for Shane Golobic, those thoughts came painfully close to becoming action during the prelim race earlier this week.

As Larson’s relentless charge threatened to snatch the lead in the final laps, Golobic admitted the temptation was there to make a move that would secure him the win at any cost. But as we’ll discover, Golobic had reasons—both personal and professional—that stopped him from crossing the line, literally and figuratively.

The Chili Bowl showdown: Golobic vs. Larson

The drama unfolded on the opening night of the Chili Bowl Nationals, with Kyle Larson and Shane Golobic battling it out on Monday for a guaranteed spot in Saturday’s championship race. Larson, piloting the #1K car, had started the race in fourth position but methodically worked his way up the field. By the final restart, he was right on Golobic’s bumper.

Golobic later admitted that the thought of hooking Larson’s bumper to secure the win crossed his mind. Speaking candidly about his inner turmoil, Golobic explained, “And if I didn’t want to hook his bumper, I probably shouldn’t be out there. I mean, like, we all want to win. I’m just—I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t pull the trigger. It’s not how I like to race.”

It’s a sentiment that speaks volumes about Golobic’s integrity as a driver. Sure, the temptation was there—“Obviously, it crossed my mind for sure,” he said—but taking Larson out just to see his name atop the leaderboard didn’t sit right with him. “I feel like that would be an asterisk on your win. You just can’t do it. So, uh yeah, I mean, I had every opportunity to be able to do it, and I probably wouldn’t have ever.”

In the end, Golobic played it clean, but that didn’t mean the loss was easy to swallow. Larson’s late push during the restart allowed him to overtake Golobic, crossing the finish line with a 0.278-second margin. The Hendrick Motorsports star secured his spot in the Chili Bowl Championship Race, leaving Golobic to reflect on what might have been.

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Larson: “We’ve got work to do”

While the win was another credit to Larson’s skill, he wasn’t entirely pleased with how the race played out. “We found a way, which was nice, but we still got to get a lot better for Saturday,” Larson admitted. His performance in the prelims, by his own account, wasn’t the smoothest. “It wasn’t a pretty 30 laps. Just things didn’t work out early, and I kind of had to methodically work my way back forward.”

Larson credited his crew chief, Paul Silva, for keeping the car competitive. “I’m confident Paul will figure it out like he always does,” Larson said. Despite his frustrations, he remained optimistic about their chances in the main event.

The final restart of the race proved critical for Larson’s victory. He knew he had to strike a delicate balance between aggression and caution. “I wanted to be kind of smart there on the last restart, although it probably didn’t look like it,” Larson said with a grin. “You don’t want to give up a locked-in spot, but you also want to win, because you can’t win a Chili Bowl from the third row on back.”

Larson’s win not only secured his place in Saturday’s championship race but also cemented his status as a favorite for the coveted Golden Driller trophy. With two previous Chili Bowl wins in 2020 and 2021, Larson is no stranger to the pressure of competing at the highest level on dirt.

As the Chili Bowl Nationals barrel toward the championship race, all eyes will be on Larson to see if he can turn his preliminary victory into a third Golden Driller. And perhaps, fans will also watch Golobic, knowing he could’ve wrecked his way to a win but chose not to. Racing isn’t just about speed; it’s about heart, too.