Talent and opportunity frequently collide at lightning speed in the world of stock car racing. Some people have a natural aptitude for racing, while others develop it as they age. For Kyle Larson, it was both. The racing prodigy was destined to drive any kind of vehicle. When Chip Ganassi Racing promised Larson, then just 21 years old, that he would take over their No. 42 vehicle in 2013, it was not surprising. Some did question if he was actually prepared for the task, though. Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon praised him as NASCAR’s next major star, but others warned against bringing him into the spotlight too quickly.
Why did Jeff Gluck undervalue Kyle Larson at such a young age?
With his 2021 Cup Series Championship victory, it is evident that Yung Money has established himself as one of NASCAR’s top drivers after twelve years. In a recent post on X, Larson discussed his aspirations leading up to the 2012 Cup Series, writing, “I’d like to prove the people who don’t feel like I’m ready for it wrong.” A press announcement held at @ATLMotorSpdwy in August 2013 announced that @KyleLarsonRacin would be taking over as Chip Ganassi’s new driver of the No. 42 car. Jeff Gluck freely acknowledged that he was one of these skeptics.
Experienced reporter Jeff Gluck, who started covering NASCAR in 2004, made preliminary judgments regarding Kyle Larson’s development in the Cup Series. Larson disproved these worries over time. As he reflected on this enlightening experience, Jeff Gluck republished the aforementioned article on X, implying that he was the one who Larson usually proven incorrect. He commented, “I wrote they shouldn’t rush him to Cup and he should do another year of Xfinity first.” Gluck claimed that despite Larson’s great talent and potential, he lacked experience. He only participated in one full-time Xfinity Series race at the age of 21, and he didn’t even win. However, in 2013, he finished in the top five nine times and in the top ten seventeen times in 33 races.
Chip Ganassi had enough potential here, but Gluck was clearly not persuaded. The seasoned insider did, however, share the opinions of other drivers regarding Larson’s entry into the Cup Series. Three-time Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart once remarked, “(He) reminds me of a lot better me.” Jeff Gordon shared this sentiment, calling him “unreal.” Gordon also added, “I wish we had five or six more of him.” However, Joey Logano clarified, “Kyle is a tremendous talent that will succeed in the future.” However, I also always advise against hurrying because sometimes it isn’t worth it.
Even though Kyle Larson proved everyone incorrect, he didn’t win until his third season. Except for 2020, when he was suspended following four races for making an offensive remark, he has placed in the top 10 of the driver’s standings each year since that year. Kyle Larson’s performance throughout the Cup Series season in his debut year was extremely noteworthy. Larson had eight top-5 and seventeen top-10 results, but he was unable to secure a victory. Two pole starts at Richmond and Pocono were part of this. With his experience in dirt racing, Larson’s skill on road courses was demonstrated when he started Watkins Glen in 23rd place and ended in 4th place.
As a Cup Series Champion for Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, Larson has shown his abilities at most circuits, but he still seems to be bothered by superspeedways. Throughout his NASCAR career, Kyle Larson has encountered both difficulties and triumphs at various tracks. In the Next-Gen era, Larson has struggled at drafting circuits like Talladega Superspeedway, Daytona International Speedway, and the redesigned Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he has recorded extremely subpar average finishes of 21.9, 15.8, and 29.8, respectively.
But in 11 races with Chip Ganassi Racing prior to joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, Larson only had two top-10 finishes. The intricacies of racing dynamics and individual driver talents across different racing styles and team plans are highlighted by this performance disparity. He has won 29 NASCAR Cup Series races in his career, including 10 during his 2021 championship run. HMS Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon believes it is all in his head, even if the Daytona 500 didn’t work out because of the multi-car incident that occurred. He stated, “I think now I’m starting to see it’s getting in his head.”
I’ve spoken with him a few times, and each time he says something like, “Dude, just do it, forget about it, don’t even try to overthink it.” As a multiple Daytona 500 champion, Gordon would be sharing his knowledge to help Larson overcome his superspeedway hump. His last four results at Atlanta Motor Speedway have been below the top 30, so it will be interesting to watch how he approaches the track! This Sunday, do you believe Larson will disprove everyone? Or will the HMS driver simply experience the same anguish over and over again? Tell us in the comments section below!
