“I was racing hard”, said Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson after he finished a respectable P4 in the 2024 championship decider at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday. The words clearly state the obvious. He was indeed racing hard. However, it seems, it was also a sly dig at Ryan Blaney and even the NASCAR administration.
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The #5 Chevrolet driver did push at different moments in the race. After all, he looked pretty much a Final 4 contender in just the previous round of the playoffs. And, a true racer, always gives his best, or so he wanted to signal to everyone. At one point, he was also seen battling championship contender Blaney, who was trying to defend his Cup Series title from last year.
It is intriguing why Larson chose to race one of the drivers from the Final 4 standings hard when others preferred to be conservative. Is it because his winning instinct kicked in? The verve that saw him win six races through the season.
The HMS driver revealed his motivation, taking a dig at the governance for the Martinsville controversy that involved teammate William Byron, Ross Chastain, and Austin Dillon. Allegations of the drivers not giving their 100 percent into the races were thrown about and Larson pushed himself in Phoenix to prove a point.
“I’m just trying to fight for every position I can. Fighting for everything I had, I’m racing for my team. We’re seven days away from everybody complaining about 100 percent. I wasn’t gonna be that person to just lay over and be in the conversation of not giving 100 percent. I was racing hard,” said Larson after the race, with a grin on his face.
Even though he hinted at the 100 percent rule and how NASCAR penalized Byron and Chastain, Larson tried to distance himself from the past weekend’s controversy. Kyle also commented on how Blaney reacted to his move.
“I’m sure he was making hand gestures”
The #12 Ford Mustang driver was visibly upset with Larson when he made Blaney’s championship bid much harder. He was seen complaining over the radio about Larson’s attempts to block for Byron.
Ryan Blaney isn't happy that Kyle Larson racing him hard for third.
"What the f***, man? F*** these assholes" Blaney
"He's going to be a blockade" Tim Fedwea.
— Dustin Albino (@DustinAlbino) November 10, 2024
Larson understood and respected Blaney’s point of view, and took an objective approach to the incident.
“You probably just assume that everybody’s just gonna lay over for you because you’re in the Final 4 but like I mentioned, we’re running third. I’m just trying to get myself an opportunity to win the race. I don’t doubt that he’s frustrated I’m sure he was making hand gestures just like he was with Ross (Chastain) last year. I’m going to give 100 percent,” opined the #5 Chevy driver.
Larson‘s mentality of steering clear of any trouble during the final race worked well for him. He ultimately finished fourth.
Meanwhile, Joey Logano managed to clinch his third Cup Series title this weekend after a characteristic win from the #22 camp.
