AVONDALE, Ariz. – Kyle Larson can’t imagine getting angry enough to take a swing at another driver—because of the potential consequences.
Naturally enough, the fisticuffs between Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and their crew members made for animated conversation at Phoenix International Raceway — site of Sunday’s Camping World 500 (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX) — where the chief combatants were summoned to a Friday morning your-attendance-is-requited meeting in the NASCAR transporter.
After Logano’s Ford collided with Busch’s Toyota on the final lap last Sunday at Las Vegas, Busch launched an overhand right at Logano on pit road and the melee followed.
Larson, on the other hand, can’t see himself in a similar situation. Most sources list Larson as 5-foot-6, 130 pounds, but both those numbers may be generous.
“Look at how big I am,” Larson said with a chuckle. “I can’t do that. Joey has got probably about two feet longer reach on me, too. No, but, I’m not the fighting type. I don’t think I’ve ever been mad enough that I have ever wanted to punch somebody, mainly probably because I’m scared that I am the one that is going to get beat up.
“No, I don’t know. Maybe I’m small enough, too. … I’m a lot smaller than most of the other drivers that maybe they will see the disadvantage while they are walking over to my car and won’t punch me. But that was pretty exciting last week.”
Ryan Blaney likewise said he doesn’t have the temperament for fighting, but he could see himself getting angry enough to want to throw a punch.
“Yeah, anyone can get that upset,” Blaney said. “The Pope can get that upset. It’s human nature. Anyone can get that upset to do that. Whether you act on it or not, that’s your own personal choice you make. It’s just passionate racers.
“People have passion for certain things, and sometimes the passion gets the best of you.”
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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