"I had no clue he was even coming" - When Kyle Larson clarified his stance after Chase Elliott's outburst over contact

In 2022, Hendrick Motorsports star Kyle Larson cleared his stance on his move which pushed Chase Elliott back in the field while battling for the lead. Larson ultimately won the race, leaving the 2020 Cup Seris champion Elliott frustrated.

In a three-wide battle at the Auto Club Speedway race in Fontana, California, the #5 Chevy driver Larson pushed Elliott on the outside barrier, damaging the latter's Chevy and making him fall out of contention to win. As a result, the Rick Hendrick driver Elliott ranted over his radio communication, saying (via NASCAR):

"What the (expletive) is he [Kyle Larson] doing, man? It wasn’t even close... It’s probably going to break again before the end of the race. But I don’t really give a (expletive) who is leading the race"

Subsequently, in a post-race media interaction, the 2021 Cup Series champion Larson explained how he was side-drafting with Team Penske's Joey Logano for the lead and was unaware of #9 Elliott making the move on the outside. The 32-year-old Larson said:

"So, I didn’t get through (Turns) 3 and 4 very well. Joey (Logano) did a good job on the bottom, and then we were side drafting each other, and I’m not even looking in my mirror at that point because all I’m worried about is Joey and I’m looking out of my A-post window. I had a run, so I went to peel off, and as soon as I peeled off, my spotter is yelling, ‘Outside! Outside! Outside!’ And I had no clue he was even coming." [0:09]

Larson, who entered the victory lane for the first time after winning his maiden Cup Series title in 2021, sympathized with Elliott, who made his way to the front after struggling throughout the race. He moreover, admitted his and the #5 spotter's mistake.

"I hate that I ended his day after they worked so hard to get back to the lead lap and back in contention to win, but it was just an honest mistake on probably both of our faults. I should have had more awareness in my mirror. My spotter could have told me he was coming with a big run, and we would have avoided that mess. I would have probably not been side drafting on Joey as hard as I was. I would have been more so protecting on Chase than worrying about Joey," added Larson. [0:28]

As things stand, Larson and Elliott ended the 2024 Cup Series season 6th and 7th in the final driver's standings, respectively. Although the competition to lift the trophy is done and dusted, they are still in contention for another award.

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NASCAR veteran makes his feelings known on the popularity battle between Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott for the 2024 season

Former NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick shared his two cents on the Most Popular Driver Award and the intense competition between Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. The award will be presented to the driver with the most votes at the NASCAR Awards banquet on November 22 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In an episode of Harvick's Happy Hour podcast, the former Cup Series champion said:

"I look at the Most Popular Driver as an interesting debate right now. Because you have Chase Elliott who has won the trophy for however many years, he has won on the race track this year and I think that helps a lot." [7:33]

"When you look at the other side of that, you’ve got Kyle Larson. Kyle Larson is at every short track, races every week, he’s engaged with the fans after the races. He’s doing those things. I feel like if it was evoked from what you were seeing on TV, Kyle Larson wins that Most Popular Driver battle currently," Harvick added.

Voting for the 2024 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Most Popular Driver Award is now open on the official NASCAR website.