“The best racing car driver I have ever seen”

Hyperbole is great in the world of sport. The best. The biggest or GOAT. These words are too often used to describe an athlete and his accomplishments. When it comes to the fans, that’s one thing. When it comes from someone considered to be one of the best in their respective sport like Tony Stewart, it’s something completely different.

After Kyle Larson won in Phoenix for the 10th time this season – not to mention his victory in the All-Star race – and won his first NASCAR Cup Series championship, many have praised his historic year as a NASCAR driver. and in the other racing disciplines in which he competed. However, it was Larson’s hero Stewart who posted words on Twitter that caught the new champion’s attention and left others wondering if he was accurate in his description.

Kyle Larson wins 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Championship

Ahead of yesterday’s Championship 4 race in Phoenix, the history books would have shown that Kyle Larson was arguably the most dominant driver in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series with nine wins (plus the All-Star race) and one astonishing 20 top-5s in 36 races. . Unsurprisingly, he set the all-time record with 2,581 laps led for the most laps ever completed in a season since the Cup Series moved to a 36-race schedule in 2001.

However, with NASCAR’s playoff system, Larson could easily have become a driver who had an incredible regular season but had nothing more to show if he had failed at Phoenix. Kevin Harvick knows this feeling all too well.

Larson was not short. Instead, he and his supply team proved important when it mattered most and won the race and the championship to cap off the historic season.

Tony Stewart says Kyle Larson is the best racing car driver he’s ever seen

After the race, Larson was showered with champagne and lots of praise. One particular post, however, caught his attention because of who said it.

Tony Stewart is undeniably one of the greatest racing drivers of all time, winning three Cup Series championships, as well as an IndyCar title, an IROC championship and four USAC crowns, including the 1995 Triple Crown – Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown. Stewart has praised Larson for years and has publicly admitted that he tried to get him signed to Stewart-Haas Racing ahead of this season, but Ford objected.

“Congratulations to the best racing driver I have ever seen. @KyleLarsonRacin, ”Stewart tweeted Sunday night after Larson won.

During his post-race media session, Larson was made aware of Stewart’s tweet and responded.

“Today has been really cool,” he said. “To now hear you say that.” I did an interview with NBC before the start of the race. Mario Andretti. I heard him talk about his thoughts on me. And now Tony Stewart. If I had to choose, if I really had a true racing hero, I would say it’s Tony Stewart, whom I have always considered the best racing driver of all time. It means a lot to me. ”

Tony Stewart isn’t the only legendary pilot who holds Larson in high regard

While some fans rebuffed Tony Stewart’s statement, suggesting it was just a championship, others supported his claim and correctly pointed out that the former driver’s comments were not just based on Larson’s achievements in the Cup Series, but what he’s done in many other styles of racing – something Stewart is quite familiar with.

This year, when he wasn’t dominating in NASCAR, Larson won the Chili Bowl Nationals, the country’s most prestigious model car race. It also won the Knoxville Nationals, the nation’s premier sprint car race, and the Kings Royal, another top event. And he won the Prairie Dirt Classic late model race, one of the best events in the country for the outlaw world.

Interestingly, Stewart isn’t the biggest name in motorsport to have been captivated by Larson’s ability to win in any type of racing car. Mario Andretti shared with NBC Sports ahead of the NASCAR playoffs how impressed he was with Larson’s racing diversity.

“It’s his life. That’s what he loves, ”Andretti said. “I identify with that. This is the reason why I turned to him in the sense of being particularly interested in what he does. He’s not the only one I’m interested in, but he just captured me in a very special way because I see myself there a lot.

Humiliating words when you consider that Andretti is the only driver to have won a Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500 and Formula 1 championship.

Kyle Larson may only have one NASCAR Cup Series title under his belt, but he has of them legendary pilots who believe he is a rare talent with unlimited potential. If racing fans are smart, they won’t discuss his greatness, but appreciate him and appreciate the fact that they witness the story every time he gets behind the wheel.

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