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WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Larson have been something to watch this season.
The two have battled on track throughout the year, from the All-Star Race to Johnson’s win at Dover International Speedway and most recently at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when Johnson ran down to the apron to block Larson’s No. 42 Chevrolet from passing him.
“He hates us. Forty-eight can’t handle it,” Larson said via in-car radio after Johnson’s block.
But for the seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion, who called racing with Larson “a blast,” there’s nothing personal with Larson; it’s just racing.
“I just race people how they race me and it doesn’t matter if it’s Kyle Larson, Martin Truex, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart — it doesn’t matter,” Johnson said Saturday at Watkins Glen International. “There’s that environment on the track. Through the course of the year, it’s been intense with the 42 at times, so I’ve been able to race him back the same way.
“… The game has changed and I have had nothing personal toward Kyle, I don’t think he’s had anything personal toward me,” he continued. “You just get in that environment of racing people how they race you and then certain scenarios exist where you need to fight for that position for whatever reason and it is what it is.”
MORE: Watch recent block attempt
The Hendrick Motorsports driver also attributed much of the hard racing this season as a product of stage racing, which has produced a sense of urgency throughout the race to obtain playoff points.
“It’s not singled out to just Kyle; in stage racing today, we have to block and maintain and hold position more than ever,” Johnson said. “And to see the extent that some drivers have gone through — even myself — to hold track position, I said it after Indy, Mark Martin would have a heart attack if he was racing this year … I think NASCAR should be happy they’ve created a more intense environment because that’s really what it is.”
The intense dynamic between an established veteran driver like Johnson, 41, and a young, up-and-coming talent like 25-year-old Larson has been interesting, especially with the influx of young drivers making a splash this season. It brings up talk of “veteran vs. young star,” “seven-time champion versus potential future champion.”
But Johnson doesn’t look at it that way.
“For me, especially with Kyle, I don’t see him as a young guy coming in; I just see him as a fast driver, fast car,” Johnson said. “My head doesn’t go there … The racing again just has changed out there. Spotters have a huge role in today’s racing, telling you exactly where the guy is behind you so you can cut the air off their car, make it more difficult for them. So, there’s just a lot of little things that drive the intensity and frustration up when you’re in a faster vehicle trying to overtake someone.
“For me personally, I don’t see somebody’s experience when I’m staring at their car. It’s really about that moment and how somebody has raced you also comes into play. We’re like elephants out there. We kind of remember things that people might forget otherwise. But, it’s really just a racing thing.
“And Kyle is an amazing talent. He’s going to win many more races and without a doubt, win championships. So, I’m happy to have those heated competitions with drivers out there, including Kyle.”