During the Iowa Corn 350, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron took the victory, but the spotlight also shifted to a heated radio exchange involving Kyle Larson and his teammate Chase Elliott. Larson, frustrated during the race on Iowa Speedway, expressed his emotions in a radio message, later explaining that his irritation stemmed from broader race circumstances rather than just his interaction with Elliott. The incident highlighted the tension between the two drivers amid a highly competitive environment.
Both Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott began the race well within the top 10 positions on the tri-oval track. However, the race was frequently disrupted by multiple caution periods caused by several incidents on the track, contributing to a chaotic atmosphere. The competitive nature of the event intensified, leading to several close-contact moments between the Hendrick Motorsports teammates driving the No. 5 and No. 9 cars.
Though the first minor contact went unaddressed by Elliott, a second more noticeable incident during a restart prompted an emotional response from Larson. Over the radio, Larson sharply questioned how much space he was expected to give to others while trying to compete:
“How much f**king room do I have to leave people? I’ve been trying to be a good teammate, a good competitor, and it hasn’t gotten me anywhere the last f**cking hour.”
— Kyle Larson, NASCAR Driver
Reflecting on this outburst after the race, Larson clarified that it was not solely directed at Chase Elliott but rather an outlet for multiple frustrations building up during the event. Speaking to SiriusXM, Larson described the circumstances that contributed to his moment of anger, including several cautions, contact with another driver, and mechanical issues with his car’s roof panel:
“I honestly wasn’t even that frustrated with Chase at all it was just a number of things were building up over all those cautions that we had. and then the 20 got into us, and then my top blew off there for a little bit. But it was just a good way for me to vent and get some frustration out and try to refocus.”
— Kyle Larson, NASCAR Driver
Currently, Larson ranks third in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season standings, trailing his teammate William Byron by 45 points. This intra-team dynamic and the ongoing competition for points contribute to the intensity seen on and off the track.
Larson Discusses NASCAR’s Prospects for International Expansion
In addition to the action at Iowa, Kyle Larson touched upon NASCAR’s recent efforts to broaden its global footprint, having recently held a points-paying race in Mexico at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Larson expressed his enthusiasm for the sport growing beyond the United States, including hopes for events in Australia and parts of Europe.
However, he also conveyed skepticism about how NASCAR, a distinctly American form of motorsport, would be received by international audiences, particularly in Europe. Addressing this on the Games with Names podcast, Larson remarked:
“So I’d like to go to like Australia and do it in Cup, but then I think going to a European country would be pretty sweet. I just don’t know how well we would be received, you know, American auto racing.”
— Kyle Larson, NASCAR Driver
In the Mexican race, Larson finished in 36th place and is determined to improve his performance when NASCAR returns to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The race’s outcome and Larson’s comments illustrate both the opportunities and challenges NASCAR faces as it considers expanding its reach outside North America.
The exchange between Larson and Elliott and Larson’s candid reflections reveal the pressure Hendrick Motorsports drivers face as teammates and competitors. Their interactions underscore the emotional intensity within NASCAR’s top tier, especially as the series continues to pursue new markets and navigate the demands of an expanded racing calendar.
