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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – AUGUST 15: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 15, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – AUGUST 15: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 15, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Seeing Kyle Larson dominate the current season and eventually lift the trophy, many fans, professional drivers and experts concluded Larson is arguably the best racing driver in America currently.
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But most of them have seen and taken notice of the 29-year-old driver in only the last few years. There’s someone who has seen and believed in the Hendrick driver’s talent many, many years before the rest; his father.
After his win in Phoenix, Kyle Larson recreated an old photo with his father.
Then 1993 and Now 2021
Both @phoenixraceway @KyleLarsonRacin @NASCAR @Hendrick5Team @NASCARONFOX @RaceHub pic.twitter.com/KjngujX4aB— MAJ1K Motorsports (@MAJ1KRacing) November 9, 2021
Seeing this tweet, many fans had a sweet reaction.
Not many people in this lifetime get to experience this, the pure joy on their face in both photos tells me the relationship between the two is tight.
Congratulations Young money.
Your dad is a good human.— MSPBELL (@mspstp99) November 9, 2021
What fantastic pictures! Love the re-creation many years later! Congratulations Kyle and family! 🏁🥇🏆
— Josie Blevins (@JosieSeitz) November 9, 2021
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!! Congratulations to @KyleLarsonRacin, your entire family, all your friends & everyone who’s stood by you & supported you over the years! 🏆🏁
— Allison McKinney (@AliMac1924) November 9, 2021
The Elk Grove resident had his first racing experience at a ‘tender’ age of seven days. He was taken by his parents to a racing event well before he could open his eyes properly.
Larson himself began racing when he was only seven years old.
Since then, the Cup Series champion probably hasn’t looked back much, both literally and metaphorically.
USA Today via Reuters
Oct 17, 2021; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) drives into turn one during the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 in the NASCAR round of 8 opening race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The sheer dominance of Kyle Larson in 2021
Now that the season is over, Kyle Larson’s growing dominance can be put into perspective.
The Hendrick driver finished the season with 10 wins, which is a number no driver has achieved since 2007. In fact, only seven drivers have achieved this in the last 40 years.
The short list includes names like Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Bill Elliott and Darrell Waltrip and now Kyle Larson. That’s some company to be in.
Moreover, the No.42 driver finished second in six other races, meaning he finished first or second in 45% of all the races he started in.
This season, he had 20 Top 5 finishes and the NASCAR record of most laps led in a season with 2581 laps to his name.
The Camaro driver won three races in a row once and two races in a row twice.
In his comeback season, Larson broke many records on his way to Phoenix where he deservedly won the race.
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 7, 2021; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) celebrates winning the Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Yet regardless of how great this season was for Kyle Larson, he’ll be starting level with the rest of the drivers in 2022. Team and drivers will analyse and study his style, his weaknesses to get ahead of him.
Nevertheless, he has one advantage that only he and his father are completely aware of.
His true racing talent.
Also Read: Kyle Larson Opens Up on Potentially Banging Wheels With Jimmie Johnson at Indy 500
