Larson led seven times for a race-high 108 laps but was running fourth, last among the title contenders, as Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Martin Truex Jr. “It’s definitely been a journey, a rollercoaster.' Strapping in for the Daytona 500 didn’t even seem real, let alone winning the championship,” Larson said. “Eighteen months ago, I didn’t even think I’d be in a Cup car again. Over that time, he'd gone from out-of-work NASCAR driver to Cup champion. Larson was in tears after taking the checkered flag as he reflected on the 18 months since his career imploded for using a racial slur while racing online. I try to model my racing and my schedule off what I feel like Tony Stewart would do, so this makes me feel really good.” I've always believed him to be the best racecar driver ever. “If I really had a true racing hero, I would say it's Tony Stewart. “Before the race started, I got to hear Mario Andretti talk about his thoughts on me, and now Tony Stewart,” Larson said. The appreciation from motorsports legends added an extra layer of accomplishment for NASCAR's first driver of Asian ethnicity to win a title, and the first graduate of NASCAR's diversity program to win the Cup. 5 Chevrolet was the opportunity for Larson to showcase all his much-hyped talent with NASCAR's winningest team. The job with Hendrick Motorsports in its flagship No. So it was Rick Hendrick who landed Larson, now 29 and touted since his arrival on the NASCAR scene a decade ago as the second-coming of Stewart or Jeff Gordon. Stewart tried, very hard, but couldn't get permission from the Stewart-Haas Racing partners. He was suspended nearly all of last season, was fired by Chip Ganassi when all sponsors dropped Larson, and it took him until the end of the year to be reinstated to NASCAR and find a car owner willing to sign him. “Congratulations to the best race car driver I’ve ever seen,” tweeted Hall of Famer Tony Stewart.Ĭomeback complete, Larson closed his second chance in NASCAR with his first championship Sunday with a title-winning victory at Phoenix Raceway. (AP) - Before he headed onto the track for the biggest race of his career, Kyle Larson heard Mario Andretti praise him as one of the most well-rounded drivers in all of motorsports.Īfter Larson closed his 10-win season with his first Cup championship, the accolades continued, including one from his childhood hero.

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