“I apologize Dale”: Kyle Larson seeks forgiveness from Earnhardt Jr. after missing his interview spot

Kyle Larson apologized to Dale Earnhardt Jr. after missing his spot earlier this week. In the latest episode of the DJD Reloaded, host Carla Gebhart kicked off her interview with Larson by reminding him of his supposed schedule at the Dale Jr. Download.

Larson is a 32-year-old California native who drives the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro at Hendrick Motorsports. He is the latest race winner at the NASCAR Cup Series, securing P1 at the Bristol Motor Speedway after leading for a whopping 462 laps.

According to the HMS driver, he wasn’t aware of missing an interview at Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast. It was his PR representative Jon Edwards who reminded him of his spot.

“There’s really no good reason. I don’t know if I like didn’t see it on my calendar or it just wasn’t on my calendar. But yeah, I didn’t know I missed it until Jon Edwards told me I missed it yesterday at like 5:00,” Kyle Larson said.

Larson then apologized to Earnhardt Jr., saying:

“I apologize Dale. Apparently, I’m not good on my phone. So I apologize.”

During the interview, Kyle Larson talked about his thoughts on the controversial Bristol stop and why he took to X after his win.

The one-time NASCAR Cup Series champion defended the race quality at the night race amid criticism. He argued that passing at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile track had always been tough and everyone should stop blaming Goodyear for the lack of tire wear.

“Temper your expectations. We’re driving spec race cars,” Larson said on X.

The Bass Pro Night Race witnessed Kyle Larson leading the field for 462 laps. He walked out of the race weekend with 60 points after winning all three stages. This puts him back on top of the playoff standings after plummeting due to a DNF at Atlanta and a P12 finish at Watkins Glen.

Larson also talked to DJD Reloaded host Carla Gebhart about the next race at Kansas Speedway, saying it is the best track on the calendar for the Next Gen cars.

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Kyle Larson’s post-race Bristol take was challenged by Bubba Wallace’s spotter

Kyle Larson’s take on the Bristol race was challenged by Freddie Kraft, Bubba Wallace’s spotter, during an episode of the Door Bumper Clear podcast. While Kraft justified what Larson said, the No. 23 team member believes the racing is not good for NASCAR.

“If I had just led 462 laps I'd have said, 'Please don't change a f**king thing!' That's not what I think is ideal racing for us. You want to have every chance where you can just manage your car, can't just run 500 qualifying laps. That's just the way I feel,” Freddie Kraft said. [27:30]

He continued by slamming Larson’s huge lead, saying:

“Any time we have a race where we're just running wide open all the time, not saving anything, the race kinda s**ks, and the race on Saturday night, s**ked. It's because this guy led 460 laps of 500 which I think was most since Cale Yarborough since 1977.”

The next NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas will open the Round of 12. The intermediate speedway showdown is happening on September 29.