Rohit Kumawat is a Senior Author at EssentiallySports, covering multiple sports like NASCAR and NBA. Currently pursuing an MBA in Media and Business Management, Rohit holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. He has been working as a Sports and Entertainment writer for over two years. His favorite drivers are Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Lewis Hamilton, and Ayrton Senna. 
In his spare time, Rohit likes to travel, and he is also interested in photography and music. Above all, Rohit is dedicated to learning new things and bettering himself professionally and personally.

Shivali Nathta is a NASCAR Primary Editor at EssentiallySports. She leads a team of some of the most experienced writers and works alongside them during live coverage for the Cup Series races. To date, she has published countless off-court as well as on-court stories on top drivers like Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, and Bubba Wallace. At the time of pushing out stories, as an English Major with 4 years of experience in creating content, Shivali looks to provide her readers with the most well-rounded and informative articles. 
When she is not engrossed into the world of Stock Car Racing, she can found publishing stories for NFL stars like Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady.

A trail of devastation has unfurled at Daytona. With 8 laps to go for the 2024 Daytona 500, a multi-car wreck involving about half of the grid has triggered a caution flag at the Daytona International Speedway. Some of the most notable names to have been collected by the crash are Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and Kyle Larson, among many more. With the race nearing its end, the urgency of the situation had risen to another level. With the #99 Chevy of Daniel Suarez in the lead, what seems like a bump from Alex Bowman onto his teammate William Byron triggered a violent turn of events, and a red flag period ensued. Discouraging messages followed the crash, with Denny Hamlin claiming on his team radio, “Left rear is killed.” #11 crew chief Chris Gabehart is hoping to put Denny and the #11 Toyota back in it, as he responded, “We’ll do our best. Get in there and take a look.” Ross Chastain has emerged as the fortunate winner from the crash and will restart the race as the leader. 

After the big crash on lap 6, the 2024 Daytona 500 undergoes a brutal wreck with 8 laps to go till the end owing to a bump from the #48 car.

Ansuman Abhisek is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. Even before he made his way into the world of motorsports, he had already made a name for himself in the sports journalism field by working as a writer for a few media houses. Now, having covered multiple Cup races live, he has often been the first to report on-track incidents and also provide his readers with an in-depth analysis of the same. His well-researched stories have been received well by both fans and NASCAR drivers, like Natalie Decker. After covering numerous top trending stories on Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Stewart, and Denny Hamlin, Ansuman has found his specialization.

If you ask him, his favorite stories are the ones where he gets to talk about Dale Earnhardt Sr and his legendary tales.

Ansuman Abhisek

Ansuman Abhisek is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. Even before he made his way into the world of motorsports, he had already made a name for himself in the sports journalism field by working as a writer for a few media houses. Now, having covered multiple Cup races live, he has often been the first to report on-track incidents and also provide his readers with an in-depth analysis of the same.

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Ansuman Abhisek is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. Even before he made his way into the world of motorsports, he had already made a name for himself in the sports journalism field by working as a writer for a few media houses. Now, having covered multiple Cup races live, he has often been the first to report on-track incidents and also provide his readers with an in-depth analysis of the same. His well-researched stories have been received well by both fans and NASCAR drivers, like Natalie Decker. After covering numerous top trending stories on Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Stewart, and Denny Hamlin, Ansuman has found his specialization. If you ask him, his favorite stories are the ones where he gets to talk about Dale Earnhardt Sr and his legendary tales.

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<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial "birthplace of speed", Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">NASCAR Cup Series</a> schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races.

[caption id="attachment_1627382" align="alignnone" width="1"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-1627382" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1024835900h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1" height="1" /> Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America - ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Origins of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2632995 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/DoBedrfXoAAjZ5P-1.jpeg" alt="" width="3000" height="2400" />

And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps.

The first-ever Daytona 500, called the <b>1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona</b> back then, saw 59 cars competing. The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Why is the Daytona 500 called ‘The Great American Race’</strong></span></h2>
As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR's crème de la crème. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven't been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl.

The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President's Day weekend in every NASCAR fan's heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President's Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that's definitely a win-win!

While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn't any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure.

One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway.

[caption id="attachment_1948603" align="alignnone" width="1800"]<img class="wp-image-1948603 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago0004296892h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1800" height="1200" /> Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme - (ZUMAse4)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Highlights of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty's father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2491357 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/lee-petty.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1262" />

&nbsp;

Lee Petty's son isn't much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/richard-petty/">Richard Petty</a> sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981.

While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn't see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison's car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne.

Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011.

Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when 'Cars of Tomorrow' debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, 'Cars of Tomorrow' simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks.

The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While 'Captain America' famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event's grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong> Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter.

In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to as <em>"the duels". </em>The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt/">Dale Earnhardt</a>'s greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nerve-wracking-crashes-that-changed-nascar-forever-edition-five-dale-earnhardt/">The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall</a> after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt's death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today.

[caption id="attachment_2105958" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-2105958 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1029986512h-e1699811493626.jpg" alt="Dale Earnhardt Sr" width="1920" height="1080" /> US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564<br />Image Credits - Imago[/caption]

&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The changes of the name of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt's passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that's the very name that has stuck around.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Shivali Nathta is a NASCAR Editor at EssentiallySports. She leads a team of experienced writers and works alongside them during live coverage for the Cup Series races. To date, she has published countless off-court as well as on-court stories on top drivers like Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, and Bubba Wallace. At the time of pushing out stories, as an English Major with 4 years of experience in creating content, Shivali looks to provide her readers with the most well-rounded and informative articles. When she is not engrossed into the world of Stock Car Racing, she can found publishing stories for NFL stars like Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady.

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Ansuman Abhisek is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. Even before he made his
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his specialization. If you ask him, his favorite stories are the ones where he
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<h1 style="text-align: center">Kyle Larson: Net Worth 2024, Relationships, NASCAR and More</h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Who is Kyle Larson?</b></h2>
Kyle Miyata Larson is one of the most prolific and successful motorsports drivers in NASCAR today. The Hendrick Motorsports star is a former Cup Series champion and is one of the most consistent drivers in the Cup Series. However, stock car racing is not the only thing Larson is prolific in. He is a master sprint car racer and will be trying his hand at IndyCar in 2024. Larson is also the co-owner of the fast-rising sprint car racing competition, High Limit Racing.

<img class="wp-image-2075684 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1599038101.jpg" alt="Kyle Larson" width="1920" height="1280" />

BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 07: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, laughs on the grid prior to a weather delayed restart of the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 07, 2023 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b> Kyle Larson's early life</b></h2>
Kyle Larson was born on June 31, 1992, in Elk Grove, California. The HMS star was educated at Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove itself. Racing and school are difficult to balance but Larson had a lot of help from his mother who was a teacher. It's safe to say that the 2021 Cup Series champion was kind of an all-rounder when he was in school.

The HMS driver was born into a family of racers. His father, Mike Larson, was a racer as well. His mother, Janet Larson, is Japanese-American and both of his grandparents spent time in an internment camp during World War II. His middle name is Miyata which is a common surname in several regions in Japan. He has a sister whose name is Andrea.

Early on in his career in motorsports, Kyle Larson was a prolific dirt-track racer with several prestigious wins in the King's Royal, Knoxville Nationals, and the Chili Bowl Nationals. He also won the 2011 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway. This saw him win three types of USAC races at a go in a single night, becoming only the second driver to achieve so. The following year saw him earn six victories in USAC National Midget races, which included the Turkey Night Grand Prix.

His achievements caught the eye of the teams in NASCAR and Kyle Larson made his full-time debut in the 2013 Nationwide Series with Turner Scott Motorsports. He had run a few races in the Truck Series in 2012 with the same team.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson’s wife and children</b></h2>
The Hendrick Motorsports star married Katelyn Sweet on September 26, 2018. The couple has 3 children together, Owen Miyata Larson, Audrey Layne Larson, and Cooper Donald Larson. Cooper is the youngest and was born on the last day of 2022. However, when it comes to Audrey, the family shares some bad news. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-same-quote-kyle-larsons-wife-reveals-daughter-suffers-from-the-same-horrific-disease-as-jada-pinkett-smith/">The parents revealed how their daughter has been impacted by Alopecia</a> since she was 18 months old, in honor of Alopecia Awareness Month. Since then, she has had hair loss, but they delayed going public with the news.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-1192530 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Kyle-Larson-wife-Katelyn-Larson-son-Owen-and-daughter-Audrey-NASCAR-trophy-768x512-1.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="512" />
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Lason's net worth 2024 </b></h2>
As of 2023, Kyle Larson has amassed a net worth of $12 million as per Celebrity Net Worth including his race earnings, endorsements, and other ventures. The Hendrick Motorsports star's current contract with the team runs until 2026 and as per reports, he makes an estimated $10 million each year as part of that deal. He also has several sponsorship deals with Target, Chevrolet, Oakley, Credit One Bank, iRacing, and Alpinestars.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson’s career timeline</b></h2>
Making his racing debut in outlaw karts at the age of seven, Kyle Larson has always been a talented multitasker trying his hands in various tourneys. Throughout his childho0d and adolescence, the driver started his professional racing career with open wheel-cars in the United States Auto Club (USAC) and the Silver Crown, among others. He also participated in the World of Outlaws and racked up his first win in the division at the Placerville Speedway, as one of the youngest drivers to ever compete. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2011, the racer then divulged his attention toward the NASCAR K &amp; N Pro Series and the ARCA Series.

In 2012, he was signed as a developmental driver for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. In June of the same year, Larson won his first NASCAR K &amp; N Pro Series East race at Gresham Motorsports Park. He also went on to win the 2012 NASCAR K&amp;N Pro Series East Championship beating the likes of <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/corey-lajoie/">Corey LaJoie</a>. On the other hand, his ARCA career took some time to take off as his first win in the division came two years after his debut, in 2014, at Pocono Raceway.

Larson's NASCAR Truck Series debut came in 2012 and he won his first race the next year, at Rockingham Speedway, driving for Turner Scott Motorsports. And it is around the same time that his Xfinity And <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">Cup Series</a> career took off as well. Debuting the top faction for <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/chip-ganassi-racing/">Chip Ganassi Racing</a> in 2014, the driver finished 17th in the points standings in his first year. As for his <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-xfinity-series/">Xfinity</a> Series career debut in 2013, the driver finished 8th in the final standings while driving for Turner Scott Motorsports.

[caption id="attachment_521629" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-521629 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20210120200820/GettyImages-1150194779.jpg" alt="Kyle Larson" width="1920" height="1281" /> CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Advent Health Chevrolet, celebrates winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson’s partnerships and endorsements</b></h2>
One of Kyle Larson's earliest sponsor after he moved to <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/hendrick-motorsports/">Hendrick Motorsports</a> from Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021 was HendrickCars.com. The Hendrick Automotive Group, via the HendrickCars.com brand, became a majority sponsor for the #5 driver for the 2022 and 2023 Cup Series seasons. Backing Larson for some 35 races in his NASCAR schedule, the brand also committed itself to sponsoring the racer in all non-NASCAR events.

As the division's first Japanese-American driver, Larson also paid an ode to his heritage when, in 2023, he landed an official restaurant partner in the form of JINYA Ramen Bar. In this extensive agreement, according to an official press release by Hendrick Motorsports, the brand was set to feature on the driver's post-race hat, firesuit and even his team apparel.

Expressing his excitement, JINYA Founder and CEO Tomo Takahashi said at the time, <em>"Not only is Kyle a NASCAR star because of his supreme talent on the track, but he’s also the sport’s first-ever Asian-American driver, so we are thrilled to partner with him. Kyle has already picked up two wins this season and we can’t wait to see him make many more trips to victory lane while wearing the JINYA logo!"</em>

Additionally, ahead of the 2024 Cup season, automotive services and lubricant brand, Valvoline also announced its bid to back Kyle Larson along with his teammate William Byron. <em>“Valvoline will be the primary sponsor for Kyle Larson in three races (Phoenix, Sonoma and the Chicago Street Race) for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season,” </em>an official press release said.

In another exciting development, Kyle Larson is also set to drive for McLaren Racing for the 2024 Indianapolis 500 as he attempts the revered 'Double Duty' on May 26. Apart from that, tool manufacturer, Cincinnati Inc also joined hands with him ahead of his HMS debut.

One thing's for sure. The driver sure knows how to attract sponsors!
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson's investments</b></h2>
Just like any other multi-talented personality, Kyle Larson has time and again shown how easy it is to dabble in multiple things at once. From competing to owning, the driver knows how to do it all. Merely at the age of 21, in 2013, Kyle Larson started exploring his entrepreneurial side which saw the formation of his sprint car and midget racing team, in association with fellow driver Justin Marks, named Larson Marks Racing. Primarily competing in the World of Outlaws, the team has had its highs and lows. The team had a fairly successful run with driver Shane Stewart who won at the team's second-ever start at the Eldora Speedway. Apart from that, the driver was also the 2015 Kings Royal victor at the Eldora Speedway yet again. Stewart was also won the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdow during the 2015-16 off-season, besides finish second in the WoO points standings in 2015.

But, things soon went downhill. While Kyle Larson taking over the sole ownership of the team in 2017 and renaming it Kyle Larson Racing seemed promising, the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be an adversity. In October of 2020, it was announced that the team would cease operations after the season was over.

While the closure might be disheartening, it didn't dampen his spirit. Soon after, in 2021, the driver announced the formation of a sprint car series, with his brother-in-law and five-time WoO champion Brad Sweet. The first season in 2023, saw 12 races. Kyle Larson won the inaugural season of the series. As for High Limit Racing's 2024 plans, the series has expanded the schedule to a staggering 60 races. It will also offer $5.8 million in prize money. Now that's what we can call an epic comeback!

[caption id="attachment_677288" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-677288 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-06-14T153502Z_1823926688_16251805_RTRMADP_3_MOTOR-NASCAR.jpg" alt="Kyle Larson NASCAR" width="1920" height="1368" /> Jun 13, 2021; Fort Worth, TX, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) shoots his six shooter guns as he celebrates winning the NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson’s NASCAR career stats</b></h2>
For a driver of Kyle Larson's stature, the numbers speak for themselves. The driver boasts an average finish of 14.23 and an average start of 11.9. He has a total of 23 race wins in his Cup series career with 164 top 10s and 16 pole positions. As for the other two NASCAR divisions, the driver has 14 wins, 80 Top 10s, and six poles in his Xfinity Series career, and three wins, 11 Top 10s, and two poles in his Truck Series stint. The driver also boasts a total of 7,556 laps led in his NASCAR.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson's  major achievements and awards</b></h2>
Kyle Larson, at his age, has already earned more accolades than several racing veterans and even legends of the sport. The HMS star is the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, the 2012 NASCAR K&amp;N Pro Series East Champion, the 2010 King of the West Sprint Car Series Champion, the 2018 United Truck Parts International Midget Series Champion, the 2020 Pennsylvania Speedweek Champion, 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona Overall Winner, 2019, 2021, 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race Winner, 2021 Coca-Cola 600 Winner and countless more.

As for his sprint car racing career, the driver won the inaugural season of his High Limit Racing series, thereby cementing his place as a formidable racer. This year, too, he'll be looking to visit the podium as the series takes a new turn with charter introductions akin to NASCAR and schedule expansion.

The 31-year-old is also set to expand his racing horizon when he makes his IndyCar debut with Arrow McLaren in 2024 in the Indy 500 on May 26. The HMS did race go-karts when he was younger and that knowledge will come in handy. The race will be a part of the revered 'Double Duty' attempt which him see him compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the almost 600 miles way <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/coca-cola-600/">Coca-Cola 600</a> on the same day.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson's merchandise</b></h2>
Being as popular as he is, Kyle Larson's merchandise sells out like hotcakes. He has his own merch store online with several products embroidered with the KL logo. Caps, beanies, hoodies, t-shirts, and even gift cards are the products sold by the driver's team on <a href="https://shopkylelarson.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://shopkylelarson.com/</a>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson's controversies</b></h2>
He may come across as a civil sportsperson today but Kyle Larson was the center of attention for all the wrong reasons back when he was racing for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2020. The now-Hendrick Motorsports driver uttered a racial slur during a video game stream in April that year. He was swiftly dropped from his team and he lost his sponsors. Before long, NASCAR suspended the driver. Larson was reinstated in October after which he joined HMS.

The 2021 Cup Series champion has had run-ins with the outspoken <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/denny-hamlin/">Denny Hamlin</a>. The two drivers had a moment in the 2023 Cup Series season in Kansas. Hamlin nudged Larson into the wall to take the victory of the race. The two drivers expressed their disappointment with one another and even the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/stewart-haas-racing/https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/joe-gibbs-racing/">Joe Gibbs Racing</a> driver's comments on the Actions Detrimental podcast frustrated his rival.

<em>“I don’t think there’s a reason to be mad at him,”</em> Larson had said on an episode of the High Limit Room podcast. <em>“We were racing aggressively on the last lap for a win, and he was way faster than me. Just the only thing that I guess I get frustrated with is on his deal, his podcast, he says, ‘I race a certain way, but I’ve never had to reach out to him to apologize about anything.'"</em>

[caption id="attachment_780514" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-780514 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-09-27T033921Z_1662942844_MT1USATODAY16837811_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-SOUTH-POINT-400.jpg" alt="NASCAR Denny Hamlin Kyle Larson" width="1920" height="1290" /> Sep 26, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) driver Kyle Larson (5) and driver Kyle Busch (18) race for position during the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson's social media</b></h2>
Kyle Larson is fairly active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. While he shares a lot of promotional content on the first 2, his Instagram account holds several moments of his personal life.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Facebook</span></td>
<td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KyleLarsonRacing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.facebook.com/KyleLarsonRacing</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Instagram</span></td>
<td><a href="https://twitter.com/KyleLarsonRacin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://twitter.com/KyleLarsonRacin</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Twitter</span></td>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/kylelarsonracin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.instagram.com/kylelarsonracin/</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Full Name</span></td>
<td>Kyle Larson</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Popular Name</span></td>
<td>Yung Money</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Birth Place </span></td>
<td>Elk Grove, California, U.S.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Birth Date</span></td>
<td>July 31, 1992</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Age</span></td>
<td>31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Height</span></td>
<td>5 ft 6 in</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Weight (in pounds)</span></td>
<td>135 lb</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Parents </span></td>
<td>Mike Larson, Janet Larson</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Siblings</span></td>
<td>Andrea Larson</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Nationality</span></td>
<td>American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethnicity</span></td>
<td>Japanese-American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Net Worth</span></td>
<td>$12 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Salary</span></td>
<td>$10 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Relationship/Marital Status</span></td>
<td>Married</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Spouse</span></td>
<td>Katelyn Sweet</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Children</span></td>
<td>Owen Miyata Larson, Audrey Layne Larson, and Cooper Donald Larson</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Profession </span></td>
<td>Motorsports athlete</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Team</span></td>
<td>Hendrick Motorsports</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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