Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, waits for the start of practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway on July 7, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Kyle Larson and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. come to NASCAR racing from similar backgrounds – specifically, open-wheel sprint cars.

And both Larson and Stenhouse have two victories so far this season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Larson at the two two-mile tracks (Fontana and Michigan) and Stenhouse at the two restrictor-plate superspeedways (Talladega and Daytona).

Unlike Stenhouse, however, Larson hasn’t curtailed his moonlighting in the open-wheel ranks. On Tuesday, between Monster Energy races at Daytona and Kentucky, Larson won his sixth straight sprint car race, taking the checkered flag at an event in Pennsylvania.

Stenhouse believes Larson’s versatility keeps him sharp.

“I think showing up and doing what Kyle has been doing in sprint cars is pretty tough to do,” Stenhouse said. “I had the opportunity back when I was racing sprint cars all the time to run Ohio Sprint Week like Kyle did this year and won three out of five races in 2006. That was a big task and a huge goal that I accomplished.

“For him to do it when he is not running full-time sprint cars is impressive. Going to get around different cars and trying to adapt to different race tracks and changing conditions just keeps you sharp. It definitely brings some confidence to what you are doing over here. I don’t have everything in line to do that like Kyle does right now. He has a good system lined up that he has been working with the last few years, and it’s been paying off for him. I definitely think it brings confidence to both sides.”