"It's always bugged me that people just assume that I don't like doing this (or) I don't like NASCAR," Larson said. "This is, like, my 12th year. If I didn't like it, I would not be here suffering through NASCAR racing. I absolutely love it. I just love racing. I love competing. I love the team aspect. I love everything about racing. It doesn't just have to be NASCAR or just be sprint cars or whatever. I love racing. Obviously, it provides a lot for us and our family and whatnot. I get to compete at the highest form of American auto racing. What's there to hate about that?"
That passion continues to drive him toward greatness. Larson has won three or more races per year since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, earning three early-season victories this season to continue that streak. At age 33, Larson is still searching for more. His contemporaries are, too, though. Fellow Championship 4 driver Denny Hamlin earned a milestone 60th career win on Oct. 12 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to clinch his way into the title round of the playoffs, but more historically to tie Kevin Harvick for 10th on the Cup Series' all-time wins list. That triggered some "quizzing" by Larson's crew chief, Cliff Daniels, about the goals that are still out there for him and what he wants his future to look like. "I told him I'm 33 right now, and I can absolutely see myself racing till I'm 40," Larson said. "After that is kind of when I want to re-evaluate. I could still go another five (years), seven, 10, or stop then. But 40 is where my head is at before I can really think outside of that." But why target age 40 as a particular check-in? That, Larson said, comes down to time with his sons, Owen and Cooper, and his daughter, Audrey. "Owen will be 18, Audrey will be mid-teens, and Cooper will be about 10," he said, "so I think life is going to look completely different for them. I'm sure they'll be hopefully successful. If Owen is racing or Audrey is racing, whatever, they'll have a lot going on in their lives then. I would think right now I would want to be a part of that." In the meantime, Larson loves the ability to go out and contend for wins and championships. His next chance to do so comes Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.Kyle Larson eyes heroes Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart in pursuit of becoming multi-time champion
AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Kyle Larson is the only driver in this year's Championship 4 quartet that has won a NASCAR Cup Series championship.
On Sunday, he can reach rarefied air by becoming a two-time title winner at NASCAR's highest level.
MORE: Phoenix schedule | Projected results in title race
Larson is back in the Championship 4 for the third time in five years and will chase that second title at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). And while his legacy would grow by becoming just the 18th multi-time champion in Cup Series history, that isn't his driving motivation.
"I don't really like to think about the legacy part of it," Larson said during Thursday's Championship 4 Media Day, "but I've always really looked up to Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon, and they're multi-time champions. Just getting a second would mean I'm closer to them."
Stewart won three titles across his Hall of Fame career, earning the 2002, 2005 and 2011 titles in a tenure that spanned from 1999 through 2016. Gordon, now vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, where Larson races, is a four-time champion with titles in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001.
Larson idolizes both drivers and uses their milestones to help set personal targets. With 32 career Cup wins, Larson has given up on ever catching Gordon's win total -- a whopping 93 that will be difficult for any driver to ever reach again. But catching Stewart's mark of 49 is absolutely on the radar.
"As far as wins, again, I've always looked at Tony. I'll never catch Jeff," Larson said with a laugh. "I don't think about Jeff. But Tony ... if I could get to that, I would be pretty satisfied."
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