Kyle Larson has a ‘fanboy’ moment

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 24: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Auto Trader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on September 24, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Kyle Larson has celebrated wins in every form of racing he’s competed in and even hoisted the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series championship trophy. But the 30-year-old Californian’s face lit up when talking about the special call he received from one of his racing heroes, three-time Indy 500 winner and longtime Fort Worth resident, Johnny Rutherford.

Rutherford called Larson this week in hopes of meeting up while the NASCAR Cup Series competed at Texas Motor Speedway. Larson, who has been competing in Christopher Bell’s ”C Bell’s Micro Mania” micro sprint event all week, said he got Rutherford’s voicemail and looks forward to seeing him in person this weekend.

“He left me a voicemail and the first thing I did was I copied the voicemail and sent it to my dad and [public relations representative] Jon Edwards,’’ Larson said, smiling.

“It was super cool that Johnny Rutherford had gotten my number and wanted my autograph. So that was pretty neat and I look forward to meeting up with him here this weekend and getting another photo op.’’