With a runner-up result in the Truck race, Kyle Larson narrowly missed winning the weekend sweep at Bristol. However, he led 687 of the 800 laps that could be completed in the Cup and Xfinity races, which he won with relative ease.
Speaking on Monday’s Happy Hour podcast, 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick revealed his intentions for competing in these lower-level races.
During the ‘Victory Lap’ section, Larson said Harvick, “I get motivated in Xfinity, but not really in the Truck side of things. This is going to come across as very cocky, but I want to embarrass them.”
During the ‘Victory Lap’ section, Larson said Harvick, “I get motivated in Xfinity, but not really in the Truck side of things. This is going to come across as very cocky, but I want to embarrass them.”
The sanctioning body itself is also important, in addition to the drivers’ field. “I just want to embarrass NASCAR a little bit, because they just don’t let Cup guys run anymore,” Larson added.
Cup drivers used to be able to compete in as many races as they wished in any level. While competing full-time in the Cup Series in the late 2000s, they would frequently dominate and even win Xfinity titles. However, NASCAR has recently taken tough measures against this kind of double-dipping, requiring Cup drivers to declare for one of the three championships before to the season’s start and restricting them to a maximum of five races (in Xfinity and Trucks apiece) during the year.
“I want to help shape these up-and-coming drivers, and it’s all about giving them a reality check,” Larson continued. Larson said, “The kids probably think they’re in a good spot.” “They are unaware of the actual location of the bar. In order to show them that they have a lot of space for improvement, I prefer to go and run those Xfinity races and simply get ten-second leads. And that’s only better for our sport, in my opinion. You know, once those young players are able to compete with Cup people, they will be more prepared for the Cup Series.”
“Yes, I want to smash the field when I run Xfinity,” Larson said in closing. I’m definitely motivated by that. Harvick seems to concur, stating that he “loved that” when he considered how, each week when he raced Xfinity, there were more than 20 Cup drivers in the grid. It was similar to a “constant evaluation of where you are,” according to Harvick, and it helped the young drivers get ready for a potential future in the Cup field.
Harvick and Larson both address a topic that has previously been discussed because some people think that competing in lower division races with Cup drivers only helps them perform better. They can only truly compare themselves to the finest in the sport in this way, as Larson stated. Drivers like Ty Gibbs demonstrate how much of a difference there is between the Xfinity and Cup Series. He took home the 2022 series title after winning seven races in his debut appearance as a driver in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Nevertheless, in almost 100 Cup appearances, he has yet to win despite competing at the Cup level against Joe Gibbs Racing.
Do Cup drivers need to avoid the lower categories, or does Larson have a point? Please share your thoughts in the comments section!
