Even the best sportspersons have good days and bad days on the field. Celebrating the good ones is important. It induces relief and pride, boosts confidence levels, and allows the teams to dictate the strategies. However, the bad ones are just as crucial.

Kyle Larson is one of the most competent drivers in the Cup Series arena. From winning the “Rookie of the Year Award” in the 2013 Xfinity Series to winning the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix in 2021, this man shoulders great expectations. However, are the expectations too high? Looking back at his last couple of seasons, would one still call him the best driver in the Hendrick Motorsports garage?

Is Kyle Larson the next Jeff Gordon?

In 2022, Larson won at the Auto Club Speedway and drove past teammate Chase Elliott to win at Watkins Glen. He scored his third and final win at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Despite carrying the burden of seven DNFs last year, he led 635 laps, won five poles, and made it to the Round of 12 in the playoffs. Sadly, he got chucked off the playoffs when he finished 35th at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Jump to the current season, Larson has suffered from six more DNFs. The #5 has two wins to his credit in 2023 so far: the Toyota Owners 400 in Richmond and the NOCO 400 in Martinsville. Nominated for the Best Driver Award at the 2023 ESPYS, he also has five top-5 and five top-10 finishes. Larson has been performing quite well in the past few seasons, but the Kyle Larson we saw in 2021 has not shown up in these last two seasons, consistency being the talking point in many discussions surrounding him.

When people refer to you as the “Next Jeff Gordon” at such an early stage of your career, the pressure is high and unfairly so. However, Larson’s fans stay strong by him and are sure that he will regain his dominant position on the NASCAR tracks.

Read more: After Dirt Success, Kyle Larson Back on NASCAR Team’s Radar

Kyle Larson’s fans stick to his side through thick and thin

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While some fans believe that the DNFs have been holding him back this year, others believe that he has seized the highest number of wins since 2021, since he came back after being reinstated after a suspension.

One fan wrote, “The DNFs have certainly been holding him back this year. He could easily be the regular season point leader rn”

“Last couple of seasons? One season? 2022. Lol we’re currently in 2023. Does he not have the most wins since 2021 since he came back? You reaching on the overrated lmao. 🗑️ take”, another sarcastically said.

Some agreed with the overrated part but also admitted that Kyle Larson is a man of pure talent. Indeed, it is a tad unrealistic to expect 10 wins every season. Another group of fans sympathize with him, saying that the goal of every debate should not be to decide who the G.O.A.T. is as it is subjective.

“3 and 2 win seasons are “not so hot”… lol, he hasn’t lit the world on fire but because of a teensy bit of bad luck and the fact that idk, 10 win seasons don’t come every year, Larson is great, idk who tf is calling him the best in the garage but he’s still a great driver.”

“People are way too obsessed with anointing the GOAT of a particular sport. The truth is, it’s all subjective at the end of the day.
Can we just agree that he is a great driver without starting another meaningless debate in which there will never be a consensus?”

Again, few NASCAR fans believe that Kye Larson is overrated and that Kyle Busch is the best pure talent. They think Larson is good but not good enough to be called the greatest driver in the garage as of now.

“Been overrated his whole career. Kyle Busch is the best pure talent…and I’m not a particular fan of his. Larson has had one good year, which was a very good year, but hasn’t shown that was the normal for him either before or since.”

“Way overrated. He’s good buts he not that good. He’s nowhere near Kyle Busch, harvick, truex”

Although there are no official details, rumors run that after attempting the Indy 500 next year with McLaren Racing and HMS boss Rick Hendrick, Kyle Larson will run in 2025 as well. What do you think of this young, talented HMS driver? Let us know in the comments below.