CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Two guys in need of a fresh start are getting one as Kyle Larson and new crew chief Chad Johnston embark on their first season together for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Both were on hand on Thursday for the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour, and it didn't take long before questions surfaced about what went wrong last year and how those issues would be corrected.
"My biggest issue was the rules changes didn't really work out for our team," Larson said. "In 2014, I thought the rules package really suited our team well. We were always really fast on the mile-and-a-halves. When NASCAR cut the horsepower, it definitely didn't suit my driving style.
"This year with the lower downforce it will be back to kind of suiting my driving style. I wish we had a little more horsepower, but we don't, so we got to get the hang of it."
Larson won Sunoco Rookie of the Year in 2014, but 2015 was considered a sophomore slump for the driver. He didn't break through in the win column, and his number of top-five and top-10 finishes each decreased in his second year.
CGR and crew chief Chris Heroy parted ways a day after the season ended, and Heroy later took a crew chief spot with Richard Petty Motorsports' Brian Scott.
Enter Johnston, who was crew chief for Tony Stewart for the past two seasons, which saw "Smoke" finish 25th and 28th in the standings, respectively.
With Larson's dirt track racing, preparation for the Rolex 24 and a trip to Japan for sponsor ENEOS, there hasn't been a lot of face time between Larson and Johnston. However, Johnston said the two have been bouncing ideas off each other over phone calls and via text, and already Johnston believes a bond is forming.
"Kyle's pretty soft spoken and laid back, and I think that's kind of my approach, try to keep an even temperament whether things are going good or going bad," Johnston said. "So I think that will help. Calmer heads will prevail. When you stay calm in tough situations, you think more rationally. On that aspect we're a lot alike."
For Larson this is the first time he's gone through a major change such as crew chief as a Sprint Cup driver, but he said he's eager to have a new crew chief who has some similarities to himself.
"He actually raced dirt open-wheel cars in Indiana," Larson said. "And I think with him working together with "Smoke" for the past couple of seasons, I think me and Tony have similar driving styles. The way we communicate will probably be similar, and I hope the transition goes well for both of us."
In order for the union to be a success, Larson will most likely need to win a race and make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. A fast start would be a great way to build confidence as the duo searches for a bounce-back season.
"To win championships, you got to win races, and just getting his first win under his belt and him having the confidence that he can do it is going to be a big thing," Johnston said of Larson. "I think once you get your first one with him you're going to see a lot more behind him."