Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson and NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Christopher Bell are at the top levels of their respective series and they share a passion of returning to where they came from, dirt track Sprint Car racing. They also have a bigger purpose in mind, attempting to grow all-around race fans instead of having dirt fans separate from asphalt fans. Now they are taking on a new role in order to further that effort as FOX Sports 1 broadcaster Vince Welch announced during a press conference this afternoon that the duo will make their broadcasting debut in a couple of weeks when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series makes their annual visit to the famed dirt track of Eldora Speedway, owned by Tony Stewart.
When queried about bringing fans over to asphalt from dirt, Kyle Larson responded:
“I feel like Christophe Bell and I do a good job of that not really trying to. Every single time I race a Sprint Car or even at the NASCAR races I will have fans come up to me, but mostly at the dirt races fans will come up to me and be like ‘man you have really got me back into NASCAR. I left for a little bit but you are the reason why I pay attention on Sunday’s.’ Which is really cool. It makes me feel special. It makes me feel like I’m doing a good job for dirt racing and NASCAR racing trying to help bring a new audience or an old audience back to the sport.”
Christopher Bell followed up with:
“I mean, it’s – my following obviously isn’t what Kyle Larson’s is, but, yeah, it makes me really happy whenever guys come over and say, ‘Hey, man, I watch you every Saturday,’ or they’re dirt race fans and we watch the Xfinity Series because you’re in it and I’ve had that through the Truck Series and it’s cool. It makes your heart happy whenever you hear it.”
Both young drivers shared the same sentiment about continuing to race after the tragic passing of fellow Sprint Car driver Jason Johnson from a crash this past weekend. Racing is in their blood and it’s what they want to do. Kyle Larson felt like maybe the World of Outlaw Series would take some notice of the safety improvements that NASCAR has made and follow suit. Which is good for the racing world as the pair has put on some of the best races battling each other, highlighted by this past year’s Chili Bowl Nationals.