NASCAR star Kyle Larson before Bristol race: ‘We don’t need to race on gravel’

Kyle Larson will be on pole when the green flag drops at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday night for the Food City Dirt Race, but that doesn’t mean he’s excited about taking part in the event.

NASCAR moved to a dirt surface starting with the 2021 race. Joey Logano won the first dirt race and Kyle Busch won the race last season. Larson has never won at Bristol. He came close in 2018, but Busch pulled Larson out of the way with six laps to go and went on to win the event.

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But Larson’s near win came true. The 2021 NASCAR Cup champion echoed similar comments he made before last year’s dirt race: NASCAR doesn’t need him.

«I think we all really like the concrete surface here in Bristol. I think the crowds are usually bigger, it seems at this point now for the concrete stuff. I don’t know. It depends on the series and the promoters, but I I’d love to run two concrete races here again,» Larson said Saturday.

Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, drives during qualifying heat #3 for the NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 8, 2023 in Bristol, Tennessee. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)

When asked which dirt track he would like to be on, Larson replied: «None.»

«We don’t need to run on dirt,» he said.

Busch also expressed his dissatisfaction with the dirt surfaces.

«Cut the cord. As Richard Petty says, dirt sets our sport back,» he said.

Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 8, 2023 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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Larson will line up with Austin Dillon on the front row. JJ Yeley and Christopher Bell will be behind them. Busch starts fifth alongside Tyler Reddick.