Kyle Larson Dominates at Bristol, Sends a Message to NASCAR
Kyle Larson made a bold statement at Bristol Motor Speedway by utterly dominating the NASCAR Xfinity Series race. Leading 277 of the 300 laps, Larson’s pace was unmatched, with only 12 drivers finishing on the lead lap.
The win reignited the ongoing debate about NASCAR Cup Series drivers competing in lower-tier events. Although NASCAR has placed restrictions on veteran Cup drivers—limiting them to just five Xfinity races per season and banning them from playoff and Dash 4 Cash events—Larson was eligible to run at Bristol, and he made it count.
Speaking on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, Larson didn’t shy away from his intentions. “This is going to sound cocky, but I wanted to embarrass NASCAR a little,” he said. He explained that competing in the Xfinity Series is his way of setting a benchmark for younger drivers, suggesting they don’t realize how much room there is for growth until they race against top-tier talent.
Larson said he doesn’t feel the same motivation when racing in the Truck Series due to the different style of vehicles. “But in Xfinity, I want to smash the field. That’s my goal. It’s motivating,” he added.
Kevin Harvick echoed the sentiment, recalling when Cup drivers regularly filled the Xfinity field, arguing it pushed everyone to be better. “Dumbing it down doesn’t help anyone,” Harvick said.
Larson’s Bristol performance didn’t stop at Xfinity. He went on to win the Cup Series race as well and narrowly missed a weekend sweep, finishing second in the Truck Series event on Friday.
