NASCAR drivers know the grind doesn’t stop at the checkered flag. They’re out there making a difference in their communities too, using their platforms to lift others. Dale Earnhardt Jr. poured his post-racing heart into The Dale Jr. Foundation, tackling youth empowerment, education, wellness, and hunger relief. In 2024 alone, they raised over $1.2 million, dishing out grants to more than 90 charities and throwing events like Driven To Give to help kids who need it most.

Bubba Wallace is right there with his Live To Be Different Foundation, supporting folks facing tough socio-economic hurdles and pushing for inclusivity in and out of the sport. His 2020 Comcast Community Champion award came with a $60,000 donation to fuel his work, showing how these guys turn wins into real-world impact. That spirit of giving back shone bright this week when Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce welcomed NASCAR champ Kyle Larson to their facility.

Larson at Kansas

With the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway looming, a playoff race where Larson’s desperate for a spark amid his 2025 slump, the visit was a timely morale boost. The 2021 Cup Series winner, who’s been mired in a winless drought since May, shared laughs and posed for pics with the NFL duo, a rare mash-up of football and racing worlds that had fans grinning. For Larson, who dominated Kansas earlier this year with 221 laps led, the Chiefs’ hearty welcome felt like a shot in the arm before hitting his home turf.

The crossover’s got that regional flavor too. Kansas Speedway’s a marquee event for Missouri and Kansas fans, pulling crowds from both states, and the Chiefs, with their dynasty run, embody Kansas City’s sports soul. Mahomes and Kelce, no strangers to the spotlight, know what it’s like to carry a team through slumps. Mahomes bounced back from a 2022 Super Bowl loss to back-to-back titles, and Kelce’s steady hand has been Chiefs gold.

Larson’s 2025 has been a slog, no doubt. Since his May Kansas clinic, leading 221 of 267 laps for a blowout win, he’s been chasing ghosts, with just three top-5s since then and a string of mid-pack finishes. Analysts are calling it a “collapse” for a title contender, and with the Round of 12 in full swing, every point counts. But a strong Loudon run, where he finished sixth, showed flashes of the old Larson.

The Chiefs’ visit, just days before Kansas, felt like fate, a reminder that even in a slump, you’ve got a fanbase and friends pulling for you. Mahomes, fresh off a Chiefs opener, knows the weight of expectations. Kelce’s quick wit probably cracked Larson up, easing the pressure.

For Kansas City, it’s a cool flex, NFL royalty rubbing elbows with NASCAR’s elite, highlighting the Midwest’s sports mash-up. The Hollywood Casino 400 draws big from the area, and Larson’s visit amps the hype. As he eyes a repeat of his May dominance, the Chiefs’ hearty welcome could be the spark he needs to break the slump and remind everyone why he’s a two-time champ. With the playoffs tight and Kansas a must-watch, Larson’s got the momentum and a little Kansas City magic to turn it around.

Larson skips Phoenix IndyCar doubleheader

Larson’s Chiefs visit ties right into his crossover love, but he’s drawing a line at the 2026 NASCAR-IndyCar Phoenix doubleheader. Before tossing the first pitch at an Arizona Diamondbacks game, he shut down rumors of running both events on Speed Freaks. The March 7 IndyCar race precedes NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts on the same day, the first time the series returns to the one-mile oval since 2018.

“I think it’s awesome,” Larson said. “I love crossover motorsports. That’s kind of what I’m all about. I heard about it, and when I saw the schedule released, I got really excited.” He’s stoked that the fans are getting a double dose of racing, and he’s all for more collaborations between the series.

But when asked about suiting up for both, Larson was firm: “No, no, no, no, no, I’m good. I’ll have a really good time watching and supporting where I can. But no, we’ll just enjoy that weekend. Maybe if it were another track, but I love Arizona so much. I like being outside the track. I’ll probably be golfing, maybe during the IndyCar race.”

After his 2024 Indy 500 run, Larson’s not jumping back in for Phoenix. His Hendrick ties keep him focused on Cup, and the doubleheader’s timing, IndyCar Saturday, NASCAR later, means he’d miss the chance to chase a win. Instead, he’ll be cheering from the stands or hitting the links, loving the crossover from afar.