Kyle Larson will start the 2015 racing season by knocking off winter rust by competing in the Rolex 24 At Daytona sports car race at Daytona International Speedway.
Larson, the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year, participated in the Roar Before The Rolex 24 test session at Daytona last weekend.
In the Cup Series, the 22-year-old drives the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, but will begin the season in the No. 02 Riley IMSA United SportsCar Championship Ford.
Larson will share driving duties with Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan and Jamie McMurray in the two-lap endurance classic.
Dixon and Kanaan drive Ganassi’s IndyCar Series cars. McMurray is Larson’s teammate in the Cup Series.
“I enjoy the offseason because it allows me to race other types of cars and it’s fun for me,” Larson said during testing. “I race stock cars all season. Now I can race on dirt and compete in cool events like the Rolex 24.”
Mike Hull is the crew chief for Ganassi’s IndyCar and sports car interests.
“I hate to use the word natural, but that’s what (Larson) is,” Hull said. “He’s one of those drivers who lives in the present but at the same time, he’s a returning driver.
“He is one of the drivers who has the unique ability to drive any race car, day or night, and have a big impact on the sport.”
The funny thing is, there were few believers in Larson before he started driving the No. 42 Cup car. At the end of the 2014 season, people were wondering why he hadn’t won a race.
“It’s crazy how things can change over the course of a season,” Larson said with a laugh. “After seeing how well we ran, they marked us as a breakout team. We came close several times. It didn’t go as we hoped.
You’d think racing a prototype at Daytona would be easier than battling 42 other stock cars in the Daytona 500.
That’s not the case in Larson’s case.
He said competing in the Rolex 24 was more nerve-wracking because he didn’t want to disappoint his teammates.
“I was the weakest link last year and I think I am this year too,” he said. “It leads to a lot of stress, because you don’t want to be the guy who ruins the chances of the other three drivers in this big race.
“My game plan every time I get in the car is to bring the car back like when I took it out.”
Scott Pruett has five Rolex 24 victories, a record. Pruett has raced sports cars, IndyCars and had a stint in NASCAR. He saw it all and said Larson was the real deal.
“It’s a breath of fresh air for all the guys,” Pruett said. “They’re excited to go to the race track and excited to run up front.
“He gives 110 percent every round. He never gives up.
