What makes Larson so good?
 

Winning Turkey Nite from 10th was no big surprise, right?
Kyle is head & shoulders better than all the other excellent dirt track racers.... Why???
What makes Larson so damn good? :22:

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

He’s smooth with the throttle and the brake, he can read the race track, he has EXCELLENT race craft, and he can anticipate the racers and the track. That combination has always been hard to beat.

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

Originally Posted by openwheelfan1:
He’s smooth with the throttle and the brake, he can read the race track, he has EXCELLENT race craft, and he can anticipate the racers and the track. That combination has always been hard to beat.

OK, but don't lots of guys have those skills? What makes him different?

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

I watch some of these guys and they can tell if they were a tenth faster than the last lap or not.

Larson is one of the best to feel traction. Meaning getting the best forward bite possible without wasting power. You over spin and your just going slower. He's always been able to find the best forward bite the fastest and if that goes away, the best to find second best area on the track.

Patience. He didn't beat his car to death at the Hangtown second night and was there for the end

He also is there now to win and have fun. He will still knock the walls down to win if he has too. But after dozens of wins and championship in Nascar, It's not now his first choice. Really think his Nascar chief calmed him down

He's also got one of the best dirt crew chiefs there is..


After all that, He wins a lot, But he's just a family guy. Humble. Not full of himself.

Glad I have gotten to witness a lot of his career.

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

Originally Posted by revjimk:
OK, but don't lots of guys have those skills? What makes him different?

Yes, lots of guys do have those skills, but IMO, Larson’s are at a higher, more developed level. His anticipation and racecraft especially. I think part of that is due to his competition at higher levels and speeds. Like any athletic endeavor…the higher level you compete at, the more you develop your skills. Driving and anticipating at 200 mph is levels different n that required at 60 mph (average speed for a 12 sec. Lap at Ventura). After all, Larson just finished his 10 season in NASCAR’s highest levels. MANY of his competitors in midgets were still in quarter midgets when he was driving 200 mph.

UNDERSTAND…I am taking nothing from Corey Day, Justin Grant, Logan Seavy et al. They are clearly performing at amazing levels and have more than once demonstrated skills above and beyond many other racers. I’m sure that if they are ever fortunate enough to get to the next level they could excel and develop their talents just as Larson has.

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

Originally Posted by openwheelfan1:
Yes, lots of guys do have those skills, but IMO, Larson’s are at a higher, more developed level. His anticipation and racecraft especially. I think part of that is due to his competition at higher levels and speeds. Like any athletic endeavor…the higher level you compete at, the more you develop your skills. Driving and anticipating at 200 mph is levels different n that required at 60 mph (average speed for a 12 sec. Lap at Ventura). After all, Larson just finished his 10 season in NASCAR’s highest levels. MANY of his competitors in midgets were still in quarter midgets when he was driving 200 mph.

UNDERSTAND…I am taking nothing from Corey Day, Justin Grant, Logan Seavy et al. They are clearly performing at amazing levels and have more than once demonstrated skills above and beyond many other racers. I’m sure that if they are ever fortunate enough to get to the next level they could excel and develop their talents just as Larson has.

I agree with you on the higher level part.

Not on the Nascar part. I think the only thing that's helped him will is teach him patience. He had that higher level before he ever stepped into NASCAR.

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

Kyle has spent the majority of his life at a race track strapped into a race car going in circles. It's that simple. when you do something allot you'll either get better and better and better or not. He obviously improves every time he races and he races allot. It's that simple. :22::22::22:

P.S. May is closing in fast. The Indy 500 is going to be very interesting

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

Originally Posted by Rich Mersereau:
Kyle has spent the majority of his life at a race track strapped into a race car going in circles. It's that simple. when you do something allot you'll either get better and better and better or not. He obviously improves every time he races and he races allot. It's that simple. :22::22::22:

A lot of them have been racing since they were kids

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
I agree with you on the higher level part.

Not on the Nascar part. I think the only thing that's helped him will is teach him patience. He had that higher level before he ever stepped into NASCAR.

Pretty much how i think. Kyle swept the 4 Crown early in career well before joining NASCAR. But I don't doubt that driving 200 mph on a regular basis would probably make 140 in a sprint car seem easier....:23:

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

Steve Kinser mentioned his wrestling coach taught him how to win. Many drivers have the amazing skill set to be fast but champions have the mental edge also. .
I cant remember the exact quote, something about balls and brain working together. My theory is winners win because thats what they do. Their not better or faster drivers, their better and faster winners

Originally Posted by revjimk:
A lot of them have been racing since they were kids

A lot of them are still kids!!

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

Originally Posted by revjimk:
Winning Turkey Nite from 10th was no big surprise, right?
Kyle is head & shoulders better than all the other excellent dirt track racers.... Why???
What makes Larson so damn good? :22:

He is an alien from another planet..lol..

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

Wizardry

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

an interesting fact

I build model cars and open wheel car releases as a subject matter are pretty rare.

Salvino's Model Car out of North Carolina is offering an all new Indycar model in 1/20th scale

Their first release? Kyle Larson!, and he hasn't even raced an Indycar yet!

Pretty cool

55-60 years ago people were asking the same thing about AJ.

I was 26 in 1963, and just returning home from my "tour ",and have to admit to being a Foyt fan, and picking up on my own racing, as it were, we all are not blessed with the funds to pursue our mission in life, but we do with what we have, I admire anyone who can do what they love and be satisfied with their lives, something to be proud of
JMHO
Bob

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

Larson is so good because the Japanese build better machines.

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

Larson is good because:

He has good equipment
He had good people working for/with him
He is smart
He has a competitive nature and prepares himself to win
He makes few mistakes

Frankly I've not seen many who can hit their marks lap after lap like he can. I first saw it at DuQuoin in 2011, lap after lap on a thin cushion inches from the wall. Hit his marks every time. Foyt did that himself and never gets enough credit for it. A.J. was not was wild as some would like you to believe. He was very smooth. I got to watch him in a variety of cars, one of the smoothest in a dirt champ car you would ever see. A simple flick of the wrists entering the corner, nitting his marks lap after lap.

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

In any type of competition, some are always better than others. Once in a great while, one comes around who is exceptional.

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

Originally Posted by mc/rider:
Steve Kinser mentioned his wrestling coach taught him how to win. Many drivers have the amazing skill set to be fast but champions have the mental edge also. .
I cant remember the exact quote, something about balls and brain working together. My theory is winners win because thats what they do. Their not better or faster drivers, their better and faster winners

A few really humorous comments here.... ;)
This one makes sense, the good ole "brains to balls ratio"..... too much testosterone in youth, gradually get smarter & less wild. But Kyle had the perfect ratio as a young'n & keeps getting better...:22:

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
I watch some of these guys and they can tell if they were a tenth faster than the last lap or not.

Larson is one of the best to feel traction. Meaning getting the best forward bite possible without wasting power. You over spin and your just going slower. He's always been able to find the best forward bite the fastest and if that goes away, the best to find second best area on the track.

Patience. He didn't beat his car to death at the Hangtown second night and was there for the end

He also is there now to win and have fun. He will still knock the walls down to win if he has too. But after dozens of wins and championship in Nascar, It's not now his first choice. Really think his Nascar chief calmed him down

He's also got one of the best dirt crew chiefs there is..


After all that, He wins a lot, But he's just a family guy. Humble. Not full of himself.

Glad I have gotten to witness a lot of his career.

"Larson is one of the best to feel traction. Meaning getting the best forward bite possible without wasting power"..... that makes sense. Sometimes he just seems to shoot ahead of everyone else, meaning he's either found the traction or has a hidden nitrous tank... ;)

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk:
In any type of competition, some are always better than others. Once in a great while, one comes around who is exceptional.

C'mon Funkmeister, we all know that...that was the original premise
The question was WHY & HOW?!?! :14:

Re: What makes Larson so good?
 

Cue Harry Potter!.....LOL!

Originally Posted by Rpracing1:
Wizardry