In the 2024 NASCAR season, there was significant back-and-forth tension between Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch, highlighted by a notable incident at Gateway where Larson’s attempt to pass Busch resulted in a collision that forced Busch into the outside SAFER barrier, ending his race early. Despite this, Larson has shown no interest in fueling a rivalry with Busch. When asked about the possibility of a rivalry, Larson dismissed the notion succinctly in just six words, effectively shutting down rumors of any ongoing feud.
Larson’s focus has been more on personal achievements and challenges rather than adversarial competition. One of his major goals was to match Busch’s exclusive “Triple Sweep” at Bristol Motor Speedway—winning the Truck Series race, the Xfinity Series race, and the Cup Series race all in the same weekend. Busch accomplished this rare feat twice, in 2010 and 2017. Larson came close in 2024 by winning two of the three races and setting a NASCAR record for laps led in a single weekend with 687 laps but narrowly missed the Truck Series win.
In a recent interview on the Dale Jr. Download podcast, Larson clarified that his motivation for attempting the Triple Sweep was not to compete directly with Busch but rather driven by his own love for racing and personal goals. He expressed enthusiasm for racing multiple events on the same day, including the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600, showing his appetite for challenging endeavors. Larson stated, “If I was to win the triple and be able to tie Kyle Busch, that would be a neat feat, but it’s not the main motivating factor.” He also acknowledged the difficulty of the Triple Sweep and praised Busch’s accomplishments, showing respect rather than rivalry.
However, Larson’s competitive spirit was evident in his approach to the Xfinity Series, where he openly admitted his intent to dominate and “embarrass NASCAR” by running Cup drivers in the series less frequently than before. He explained that by winning decisively in Xfinity races, he aims to push younger drivers to improve and better prepare for the Cup Series. Larson believes that competing against Cup drivers regularly benefits the development of emerging talent, citing his own experience racing against top Cup drivers in Xfinity as a key factor in his growth.
Larson doubled down on these views during a SiriusXM Radio appearance, lamenting NASCAR’s restrictions on Cup drivers participating in Xfinity races. He argued that these limits have reduced the preparedness of Xfinity drivers for the Cup level, referencing the struggles of recent Xfinity champion Ty Gibbs in adapting to the Cup Series. Larson’s critique highlights his belief that exposure to top-tier competition is essential for driver development and the overall health of the sport.
In summary, while the 2024 season included some on-track clashes and speculation about a rivalry between Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch, Larson has publicly rejected the rivalry narrative. His focus remains on personal milestones, respect for Busch’s achievements, and a desire to elevate NASCAR’s competitive standards through his participation across series. His candid remarks about NASCAR’s policies and his competitive mindset in the Xfinity Series further illustrate his commitment to pushing the sport forward rather than engaging in personal conflicts.
