Kyle Larson Thinks He's A Better All-Around Driver Than Max Verstappen

During Saturday night’s Knoxville Nationals postrace press conference, runner-up Giovanni Scelzi was asked what more he needed in falling one spot short on the podium.

In other words, what did newly-minted three-time Nationals champ Kyle Larson have that he didn’t? He offered up a good observation.

“I don’t know what it takes to get to that next level. When I get there, I’ll let you know. Just being mentally strong, physically strong, is the key,” Scelzi, the often-well-spoken 22-year-old, said. “Obviously Kyle runs three- to four-hundred-lap races that might not be as physically demanding, but it’s mentally draining for sure to run a stock car that long.

Then he shared what he believes separates Larson most.

“He’s so good in every discipline, he’s probably the greatest driver ever to live,” said Scelzi, whose words erupted a pavilion full of listening fans into cheers. “I don’t think it’s silly saying that. We all know.”

Eighteen-year-old Corey Day endorsed those comments: “Like Gio said, I don’t think there’s anyone on the planet better than Kyle Larson in a race car.”

So the question goes, is Larson the best driver on the planet in a race car? That’s subjective, of course, and dependent upon nationality. Americans at large won’t argue. Europeans, namely Formula 1 diehards, will likely say that’s blasphemy and instead declare three-time reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen — winner of 51 of the last 80 F1 races since 2021 — as unmovable from that throne.

Verstappen has won the last two Best Driver ESPY Awards, ESPN’s honors for best auto racing driver worldwide. Larson won it for his sterling 2021 season that delivered a Cup title and bonafide Crown Jewels in NASCAR, Dirt Sprint Cars, Dirt Late Models and Dirt Midgets.

If only Larson and Verstappen dueled at this year’s Paris Olympics, then we’d have our answer. Or perhaps not?

“Not really. I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver,” Larson said bluntly when asked by FloRacing if he has to race, and beat, Verstappen to feel like the world’s best driver.

Larson didn’t just leave it at that.

“There’s no way (Verstappen) can get into a Sprint Car and win the Knoxville Nationals. There’s no way he can go win the Chili Bowl. There’s no way he can go win a Cup race at Bristol,” Larson continued. “There’s probably no way I can go win a Formula 1 race at Monaco, but I think I’d have a better shot at him (doing what he does than him doing what I do) just because of the car element.

“That’s what gives me ease and confidence that, like, I know I’m better than him. Maybe not in an open-wheel IndyCar or Formula 1 car, but that’s one discipline. I think I would beat him in everything else. You can quote that.”

Blunt Larson, a nickname given by NASCAR reporter Jeff Gluck years ago, is indeed shining through. But Blunt Larson shouldn’t be mistaken for Egotistical Larson. He has a strong point, especially after winning his third Knoxville Nationals in four years — his second straight in dominant fashion — on Saturday.

This is the Sprint Car royalty he nows belongs with: