Larson better than Verstappen? NASCAR driver yet to qualify for Sunday race
F1 News
In the summer of 2024, Kyle Larson, a NASCAR champion, assured the world he was a better 'all-round' driver than F1 world champion, Max Verstappen. However, since then, the American driver has faced several tough moments, while the Dutchman took an epic win in Brazil and cemented his stead as one of F1's greats according to many experts, having won his fourth championship on the trot.
Indeed, last year Larson made some bold claims in Verstappen's direction stating that: "I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver," to Floracing, before elaborating further. "I think I’d have a better shot at him (doing what he does than him doing what I do) just because of the car element."
Before admitting that he would have his work cut out for him in an open wheel car, the American disregarded it saying "that’s one discipline. I think I would beat him in everything else. You can quote that."
A colleague of Larson's, Kevin Harvick, also backed the American talent while at the same time laying a challeng at Max Verstappen's doorstep. "I would love to see the Max Verstappen-type situation at the Daytona 500 of sorts," adding that if Larson were to be put in a Red Bull "he’d go wheel-to-wheel with Max Verstappen. It wouldn’t take him long to figure it out," but should Verstappen be in a stock car, "it would take a lot longer," for the Dutchman to adapt.
Larson fails to advance to Sunday race
NASCAR is currently getting warmed up ahead of the 2025 championship's start at the Daytona 500. Currently the stock cars series is in the historic track of Bowman Gray, where the Clash is taking place. Four 25 lap races were held at the short American circuit to begin forming the grid for Sunday's race with 20 out of the original 39 entries, and in his heat race, Larson unexpectedly failed to make any headway, resulting in his name being left out of the top 20.
During the second heat race, Zane Smith got bumped by Daniel Suarez, which pushed him wide and into Larson's path, who also tapped Smith, before taking avoiding action and cutting to the inside in front of an incoming and unaware Cody Ware who thus couldn't the avoid contact causing Larson to oversteer at the exit of the final turn. In the end Larson finished the short qualifier in 8th place.
However, the American cannot be completely ruled out, since he can still make the cut during the Last Chance Qualifiers (LCQ), a final 75 lap race where the top 2 will earn a spot for Sunday's race. If the American aboard his Hendrick Motorsport Chevrolet cannot make his efforts count he may still find a way onto Sunday's grid via the provisional points which award the highest ranked driver in last year's championship an entry. Bad news for Larson, Ryan Blaney currently holds that ticket.
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