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NASCAR: Kyle Larson apologizes for cheating remark about Hendrick Motorsports

By Asher Fair

HAMPTON, GA - FEBRUARY 22: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 McDonald's Chevrolet, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 22, 2019 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
HAMPTON, GA - FEBRUARY 22: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 McDonald's Chevrolet, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 22, 2019 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson has apologized for accusing Hendrick Motorsports for cheating despite making his accusations in a joking manner.

Earlier this week, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson made headlines when he accused Hendrick Motorsports, one of the three four-driver NASCAR Cup Series teams, of cheating.

Hendrick Motorsports tend to start out seasons slowly and then improve as they go on, so the fact that their four drivers have combined to earn only one top 10 finish (Jimmie Johnson’s ninth place finish in the season opener, the 61st annual Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway) through the first two races of the 2019 season had Larson “wondering”.

Here is what Larson had to say about the matter on Monday, according to NBC Sports.

"“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. 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.”"

The 26-year-old Elk Grove, California native has now apologized for his remarks despite the fact that he stated that he made them in a joking manner. Here is what he had to say about the matter on Tuesday, according to Autosport.

"“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 major part of the reason we have been as strong as we are.”"

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Larson opened up the season with a seventh place finish in the Daytona 500 before leading 142 of the first 223 laps of the season’s second race, the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He was then penalized for speeding in the pits and sent to the back of the lead lap because of it, and he could only recover to finish in 12th in his #42 Chevrolet.

Johnson, meanwhile, finished this race in 24th place in his #48 Chevrolet. Hendrick Motorsports’ other three drivers, Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman, finished in it 19th, 17th and 15th in their #9 Chevrolet, #24 Chevrolet and #88 Chevrolet, respectively, after finishing the Daytona 500 in 17th, 21st and 11th, respectively.

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What are your thoughts about Kyle Larson’s apology? Did you believe that he even needed to apologize for saying what he said? If so, do you believe his apology was sincere? NASCAR Cup Series action is scheduled to resume this weekend with the 2019 season’s third race, the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. This race is set to be broadcast live on Fox beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET, so be sure not to miss it.

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