Kyle Larson

 Kyle Miyata Larson (born July 31, 1992) is an American professional auto racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports. Larson is the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East winner and the Rookie-of-the-Year, the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series rookie of the year, and the 2014 Cup Series rookie of the year. Before and throughout his stock car racing career, Larson has been highly successful in dirt track racing, having won at some of the most prestigious races including the Kings Royal, Knoxville Nationals and Chili Bowl Nationals. He also won the 24 Hours of Daytona race with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2015.Racing careerEarlyCareerLarson racing with a USAC Midget race in Born in Elk Grove on July 31 on the 31st of July, 1992. Larson was born. His parents were present at his first race one week later. He began racing at the age of seven in karts that were outlawed located in Northern California. As an teen He raced open-wheel cars that included United States Auto Club (USAC) midget, Silver Crown and sprint cars, competing with Keith Kunz Motorsports and Hoffman Racing with Toyota backing;[2] During his early career in USAC one of the official racers gave Larson the name "Yung Money" in recognition of his talent. He also competed in the World of Outlaws sprint cars. His first sprint car race win came at Placerville Speedway, where he was among the youngest drivers ever to take part in. He won the Eldora Speedway 4-Crown Nationals in 2011, winning in all three USAC kinds in one night. It was the second time such feat was accomplished by a driver. He holds the track record at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, California that was set in the year 2010. In 2012, he won six USAC National Midget races including the Turkey Night Grand Prix. 8 Larson took home six USAC National Midget races including the Turkey Night Grand Prix. Larson took home the win in the Pete Orr Memorial Orange Blossom 100 race at New Smyrna Speedway on February 10 2012. The following week the same race, he took home another victory at the speedway during the World Series of Asphalt. [13] Larson competed full-time with Rev Racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. In the first race of the season at Bristol Motor Speedway, Larson placed 9th. Larson was at the pole of the Bowman Gray Stadium and finished 5th. 14 years ago, he won his first K&N Pro Series East win at Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Georgia. 15 years ago, Larson earned his 2nd career win in New Hampshire. In June 15th, 2012 Larson made his ARCA Racing Series debut at Michigan International Speedway, driving for Eddie Sharp Racing. Larson finished 13th in the race. 17. Larson won the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Championship with 2 wins and 12 top ten finishes in 14 races, overcoming the five victories of Corey LaJoie (son of two-time Busch Series champion Randy). Larson was also named NASCAR K&N Pro Series East's Rookie Of Year. [18] Larson won his first ARCA victory at Pocono Raceway on June 7 the 7th of June, 2014. He began his race from the pole position.Truck SeriesLarson's race-winning No. 30 truck in Rockingham in 2013. In the latter part of June 2012, Larson made his Camping World Truck Series debut at Kentucky Speedway in the No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado for Turner Motorsports. He finished 10th overall in the race.In April of 2013, Larson won his first Truck Series win at Rockingham Speedway in a close battle alongside Joey Logano. Larson made donuts while taking his steering wheel removed in celebration. It was a routine that he picked up while racing go-karts. The celebration prompted NASCAR to request that he keep his steering wheel on to ensure safety due to the fact that Larson could not exert much control over the truck without the steering wheel. He finished 2nd in the first Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway.In 2016, Larson was a part of GMS Racing to drive the No. 24 truck for the Martinsville race. Larson placed 5th in Martinsville. Larson finished 4th in Martinsville after starting fifth. Larson was penalized for intentionally discharging the caution. Larson's tire went off during lap 51 of Eldora Speedway. Larson completed 20 laps for each lap before being awarded the right to race. He beat Christopher Bell to win his second career victory. Larson announced that his return to GMS Racing in 2020 to take the No. Larson joined Niece Motorsports in 2021 to be the driver of the No. 24 truck at Homestead to take advantage of the bounty that is given to full-time Cup drivers by Kevin Harvick. 44 truck to race the brand new Bristol dirt racing. [30] Larson was 28th when the heat races were canceled because of rain. He ended up finishing 35th in the Xfinity SeriesLarson in his Nationwide Series rookie season in 2013.Larson's 2013 Nationwide Series car at Road America.In 2013, Larson moved full-time to the NASCAR Nationwide Series, driving the No. 32 Chevrolet Camaro for Turner Scott Motorsports. 31. On the final lap in the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway, he was in the middle of a violent crash , in which his vehicle was thrown into the air and struck the catchfence, completely ripping the front of his vehicle off. Although he was not injured many spectators were injured from the wreckage. Larson was sent off track on lap 1 of the first Nationwide Children's Hospital200 that took place at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. After losing three laps due to repairs, he was able to finish on the leading lap, finishing 14th. Larson was awarded the Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year after the season's finale at Homestead. He was the first Asian American participant in Drive for Diversity to win a Rookie of the Year Award for a touring series that is national in scope. Larson drove the No. 42 car on a part-time basis. In Bristol, Larson started on the pole, but finished second behind Kyle Busch. Larson was second at Auto Club Speedway on March 22nd and beat Kyle Busch (Kevin Harvick) and winning his first Nationwide Series victory. [34][3534][35 Larson declared, "Those last 11-12 laps were my longest laps." I've been close to winning numerous times. But the way we did it in was extra special." Larson once again celebrated by performing burnouts in the infield without using a steering wheel. [36][37] On May 24, Larson earned his second career win at Charlotte Motor Speedway, edging Brad Keselowski In 2015, Larson drove the No. 42 car part-time for HScott Motorsports. After beating Austin Dillon at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Larson won the race. It was the first victory for HScott Motorsports. 42 part-time for Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR). Larson was the winner of Pocono, after the race was canceled because of rain on lap 53. He would repeat his win later in the season at Texas Motor Speedway.Larson's 2017 Xfinity Series car at Dover.Larson completed 11 Xfinity races in 2017. He took the win at Auto Club Speedway after holding off Joey Logano. Larson took his 8th career victory at Dover after leading 137 laps. In 2022 Larson was driving the No. 17 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports at Road America. He won the opening stage and was the leader for the most laps. But, he was unable to hold off to Ty Gibbs in the final lap and was placed second. Larson drove the No. 88 car for JR Motorsports at Watkins Glen and won his 13th career victory after William Byron and Ty Gibbs spun together while battling for the lead in the final laps. Larson was fifth in the September Darlington race following three cars fought with Noah Gragson, Sheldon Creed and Sheldon Creed in the final laps.