"I hope Chip Ganassi has a good contract with him" - When Kevin Harvick regarded Kyle Larson as ‘the best driver’ since Jeff Gordon in NASCAR

Kevin Harvick once made a bold statement and deemed Kyle Larson was the 'best driver' to join NASCAR since Hendrick Motorsports legend Jeff Gordon. The veteran driver Harvick also asserted how every team wanted Larson in their garage when the latter was competing for Chip Ganassi Racing.

In 2017, former Cup Series champion Harvick praised the Elk Grove, California native's talent after Larson clinched his second career Cup win at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.

Speaking on the Happy Hour podcast, Harvick stated how Larson has won in almost everything that he has driven and regarded him as the best addition in the sport since the four-time Cup Series champion Gordon, and Larson's eventual boss.

"Kyle Larson is the best driver to come into this sport since Jeff Gordon, in my opinion. I think Kyle Larson is that good. And he’s just a kid that not enough people know about – but he has won and wins in everything he’s ever driven. He’s just a racer," Harvick said. (0:01 onwards)

Moreover, Harvick emphasized how wives, girlfriends, and kids help drivers put things together and grounded. For context, Larson at 24 had a toddler son, Owen, with long-time girlfriend (now wife) Katelyn.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 2017 - Source: Getty

Furthermore, former Stewart-Haas Racing driver Harvick made his feelings known about Larson and his former Cup team CGR. He said:

"He’s that good. I hope Ganassi has a good contract with him – because every team in the garage wants a Kyle Larson. He’s a guy you can put in your race cars and win races. Even on a day when your race car is not that good, he’s going to make you look good." (0:46 onwards)

However, CGR parted ways with the 'Yung money' mid-season in 2020 when NASCAR indefinitely suspended Larson for using a slur.

Later that year, Rick Hendrick and Co. signed Larson for a multi-year contract starting from the 2021 season.

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"We went over to his house" - HMS vice chairman Jeff Gordon once revealed how they signed Kyle Larson

After a storied career with Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon transitioned to an executive role for Rick Hendrick's organization. Gordon in an episode of the Happy Hour podcast revealed how the deal with 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson came together.

Speaking with Kevin Harvick, Hall of Famer Gordon said:

"We went over to his house and Rick and myself and Kyle sat down and you just knew that this guy's mind and heart were in the right place and that he was willing to do everything that it took to get back into a top-notch ride and his interest at that time was Hendrick Motorsports." (22:01 onwards)

Furthermore, Gordon also mentioned how Tony Stewart was also in contention to sign Larson. He added:

"I had heard that Tony Stewart (was interested in Kyle Larson), and I wouldn't have been surprised. We're both past dirt racers, Tony spends a lot more time on the dirt tracks than I did. So I knew that there was probably something there that we might be competing with." [22:26 onwards]

As things stand, Kyle Larson joined the winningest NASCAR organization and clinched his maiden Cup Series title in his debut season with Hendricks.