With a full-time job in NASCAR, a sprint car obsession, a passion for the Indianapolis 500 and an interest in Australian Supercars, Kyle Larson is among the most versatile race car drivers around.
So what about asphalt short track stock cars?
Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and William Byron have dabbled in super late models at such high-level special events as the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, the Slinger Nationals and the Snowball Derby.
“I love watching it as a fan. I really do,” Larson said. “I turn the (Snowball Derby) broadcast on and watch all the pre-race festivities and stuff.
“But as far as competing in it, it’s … just a large commitment and you have to be in a great car to compete for a win. And I don’t know anybody really in super late models, and being how pavement racing is, they’re going to want funding. … I haven’t even attempted to even put anything together.”
Whereas Larson came up in the open-wheel dirt world, Elliott and Byron came from stock car backgrounds and super late models were an important part of their ascent.
Elliott chased a third Snowball Derby victory in 2020, gave the Slinger Nationals a try in 2023 and has made several starts so far in 2025. Byron went on a tear while racing a handful of super late model specials in 2022, winning nearly every one he entered, including Slinger.
“I’ve asked them what they spend, and it’s incredible,” Larson said. “And they’re established Cup Series guys. So I’m not into that.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kyle Larson will race just about anything, anywhere. So how about Slinger?
Reporting by Dave Kallmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
