NASCAR champion Kyle Larson, fresh off his third Cup title, is telling folks his championship moment was… anticlimactic. Yeah, you read that right. The guy who just hoisted the Cup didn’t even realize he’d locked it up until his crew chief practically mumbled the news over the radio, catching Larson completely off guard.
The “Oh, I Guess It’s Official” Championship Moment
Larson was between media stops in New York, winding down his champion’s tour, when he dropped this bombshell. Turns out, he didn’t plan any grand speech because he didn’t want to jinx himself. Fair enough, right? But the actual clinch? Totally unexpected. Larson admitted he wasn’t thinking about all the points scenarios, just that he needed a third-place finish in the first stage. He wasn’t even considering what would happen if Christopher Bell didn’t win that stage, so his head was just locked on getting one more point in the second stage. He expected crew chief Cliff Daniels to come across the radio with some epic speech, some huge congratulations. Instead, when the first stage ended and Larson was still focused on getting a top-10 finish in the *next* stage, Daniels just said, “Oh, I guess it’s official.” Larson’s reaction was pretty subdued himself, probably still processing it all and trying to stay focused on the race. But when Rick Hendrick, the man himself, jumped on the radio mid-race to congratulate the team? That, he said, was truly special, a moment he hadn’t experienced before. Now *that’s* cool.
That Championship Trophy Almost Took a Tumble, Right?
Remember that moment when the championship trophy looked like it was about to go flying? Larson had thoughts on that too. He said he actually didn’t almost drop it. His hands just slid up where you’d normally grab it. Sure, he was a little sweaty, but he was totally confident he wouldn’t actually let it slip. He even mentioned the trophy itself is awkward, with one end heavier than the other. He admitted it looked a bit embarrassing, but he was always in control. We’ve all been there, trying to hold something heavy and just barely managing not to look like a total klutz.
Rainouts and a Happy Champ
So, with the media tour winding down, Larson actually had a race planned for this past weekend in California. But, bummer, it rained out. Dirt tracks cancel early if the forecast is bad enough to save teams travel costs. And while he’s a racer at heart, Larson confessed he’s “kind of happy” about it. Why? Because that’s a “long flight” he now gets to skip. Sounds like even a triple champion appreciates a little less travel every now and then. So, no dirt track racing for Larson this weekend, giving him a rare break after a whirlwind media tour. With his third Cup title under his belt, it’s clear this guy is already chasing what’s next, even if sometimes he doesn’t even realize he’s won it yet. What a wild ride for the No. 5 team, and honestly, we can’t wait to see what they pull off next season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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