KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Say what you will about the driver himself, but Kyle Larson’s current hot streak across two surfaces and two vastly different forms of motorsports is an achievement that is largely unrivaled in the modern era.

It has put his name closer to the same breath as legendary racers like A.J. Foyt and Tony Stewart, two of the best at bouncing from car to car and surface to surface. They’re what many call ‘racer’s racers’.

And fans across the country have recognized Larson as being one of those elite breed.

It may well be why they roared in approval when Larson responded to questions about his participation in Saturday night’s championship A-Main, admitting that he would ask his NASCAR owner Chip Ganassi’s permission to compete in the $150,000-to-win crown jewel.

“I definitely have to have the conversation with him (about racing Saturday), that’s for sure!” said Larson in victory lane.

“I’m nervous about the phone call. Hopefully, (Chip) is listening and knows how much I appreciate everything he allows me to do racing sprint cars. If we can race Saturday night, that would be a dream come true.”

Larson, who led all 25 laps to win Wednesday night’s preliminary feature and sits fifth in overall points going into Thursday’s second qualifying night, has lined himself up in a stellar position to chase his first Nationals championship with car owner Paul Silva.

Not only does he have a solid chance of being one of the 16 drivers who is locked into the finale, but Larson now has eight wins in a sprint car this season (seven of those with Silva), all having come since June 13.

The 25-year-old from Elk Grove, California is currently third in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points standings and has two wins on the season, but admits he feels like he has shined brightest when returning to his sprint car roots throughout the summer.

In fact, he said Saturday night that he feels like he’s the best he’s ever been in sprint car competition.

“I’ve never been this good in a sprint car in my career,” Larson said emphatically. “To win a prelim night here with Paul Silva is amazing.”

“(The Knoxville Nationals) is a huge event for me, personally, and like I said, I don’t feel like I’ve ever been this good in a sprint car … especially with Paul’s car. Winning the races we have in just 14 starts this year is pretty amazing. I’d love to get the chance to go and win the biggest race of the year. I know my priorities are 100 percent for the Cup car on the weekends, and I respect that, but this is a huge, huge event and I feel like I’ve got a good shot (to win) this year if I can have the chance to try.”

After wheeling from 21st to fifth in last year’s Nationals with Silva and his first preliminary night win this year, it’s hard to bet against that statement.

But as Larson and the fans all well know, it comes down to Chip Ganassi’s say now.

“Right now, I am not allowed to race on Saturday,” Larson said during the post-race press conference. “In the contract with Chip, I can race – I have to have a day off before I am on track for Cup – and Saturday we are on track at Michigan practicing and we race on Sunday. I am going to talk to Chip and he understands how important this race is, and he may allow me to come here. I have my fingers crossed and I think I know what his answer will be, but hopefully, I’m wrong.”

“I hope I can talk him into it, and maybe the win tonight will help my case. We’ll see.”

About the Writer

Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.

Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.

The 23-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.

Email Jacob at: [email protected]

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