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“I Swear I Saw Something Funny”: Kyle Larson Recalls the Time He Thought He Saw a UFO Back in the Day

Neha Dwivedi
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NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson speaks during an interview at Iowa Speedway on April 18, 2025, in Newton.

Many in the NASCAR world say Kyle Larson is built differently, the remark usually made to describe his unmatched skill and adaptability across multiple racing disciplines. But Larson’s fascination with racing goes beyond the limits of any track on Earth.

Larson’s relentless pursuit of racing greatness runs so deep that he once said he wouldn’t just race in another galaxy if given the chance, he’d aim to be the best there, too.

In a 2019 edition of the ’12 Questions’ segment with Jeff Gluck, Larson was asked whether he believes life exists beyond Earth, and if so, whether they race. Without hesitation, he replied, “I believe there’s life in outer space. I don’t know if they race, though. Maybe. Wow.”

He claimed that he not only believes in extraterrestrial life, but may have also experienced its presence too.

“I feel like I’ve seen some UFOs before, so I think there’s life. Do they race? I don’t know. I would hope they do. That way I could maybe go race in outer space,” added Larson.

The belief stems from experience for Larson, he claimed, and not just a figment from his imagination, or a belief in a theory. And Larson recalled the moment.

Once, Larson was driving through Sacramento, near ARCO Arena, where the Kings used to play. He suddenly spotted a cluster of small, colorful lights darting erratically across the sky. They zipped around in all directions.

“What the hell is this?” he recalled thinking. “It wasn’t like a drone, because there were multiples and they were flying fast. Pretty low to the ground. Probably 50 feet off the ground. But just little lights. Maybe I was crazy for a second. But no, I swear I saw something funny.”

Larson then described his interstellar racing ambitions, saying he would like to be known as one of the first intergalactic racers. He wants to be introduced as someone “out of this planet” should the opportunity arise to compete beyond Earth.

Even if those ambitions never leave the realm of imagination, Larson has already proven himself on the race tracks on earth to warrant the status as one of the most extraordinary talents in NASCAR.

Post Edited By:Abhishek Ramesh

About the author

Neha Dwivedi

Neha Dwivedi

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Neha Dwivedi is an experienced NASCAR Journalist at The SportsRush, having penned over 3000 articles on the sport to date. She was a seasoned writer long before she got into the world of NASCAR. Although she loves to see Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch win the races, she equally supports the emerging talents in the CARS Late Model and ARCA Menards Series.. For her work in NASCAR she has earned accolades from journalists like Susan Wade of The Athletic, as well as NASCAR drivers including Thad Moffit and Corey Lajoie. Her favorite moment from NASCAR was witnessing Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. win the championship trophies. Outside the racetrack world, Neha immerses herself in the literary world, exploring both fiction and non-fiction.

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