Larson issues an apology letter to Rick Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports
On Tuesday, Kyle Larson made comments about Hendrick Motorsports. In those comments, he stated that the organization has found a way to cheat the system.
How? Kyle Larson stated that the team shows up in early part of the season with cars that are well within the rule book.
Then, as the season goes along, HMS isn’t on the radar of the NASCAR officials. That’s the moment they push the boundaries of the rule book a little further.
Kyle Larson is the driver of the #42 at Chip Ganassi Racing. Both teams are under the Chevrolet banner. Herndick Motorsports also supplies the engines for CGR.
Kyle Larson accuses Hendrick Motorsports of ‘cheating’
“Atlanta is so different than any other track that we’re going to go the rest of the year that you can’t jump to conclusions off one week,” Larson told Rick Allen during an interview for NASCAR America’s Splash & Go feature on NBC.
“I feel like Hendrick plays games in a way with NASCAR. I feel like they always start the year off kind of bad to like show NASCAR that they’re being nice and cooperating and following the rules and stuff, and then it gets a couple of months in, and they start cheating and finding some speed.”
“So I don’t know. But it was satisfying. It’s been satisfying the last few years to be considered the top Chevy team. That’s something that this race shop prides itself on, but we don’t need to be the best Chevy team. We want to be the best team.”
Kyle Larson issues apology note to Hendrick Motorsports
Kyle Larson issued the following apology note on Tuesday night:
“I want to apologize to Mr. Hendrick and Team Hendrick for the comments I made earlier today. I feel terrible about it.”
“I meant it jokingly, but shouldn’t have implied they are anything but a strong competitor that gets better as the season goes on. I appreciate the engine support we get from them as they are a major part of the reason we have been as strong as we are.”
Kyle Larson further back steps on Hendrick Motorsports cheating comments
Personality of the players and the unique freedom of expression is really what separates NASCAR athletes from other sporting organizations. Fans eat that up. Larson still wants to be himself but he working on refining it.
Larson spoke to ‘On Track’ via Sirius XM NASCAR Radio about the comments and the general situation:
“I think there’s right times to say what’s on your mind and other times I could definitely do a better job of using different words or something that could make things come across a lot better,” Larson told Danielle Trotta and Larry McReynolds.
“Katelyn [Kyle’s wife] would probably be the first person to tell you I’m not the best with my words.”
“Either way, it hurt some feelings,” Larson said. “Hendrick is a partner of ours at Chip Ganassi Racing. We love having their support, and we use their engines.”
“We believe we have the best engines out there. I meant no harm by it. But I regret saying that because they are partners of our race team in a way.”
Larson also stated that “he’s got to work” on refining his comments and “still be who I am at the same time.”
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Links
Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Hendrick Motorsports | NASCAR
