July 31, 2022 | By Lee Spencer

It's a Brickyard Birthday for 30-year-old Kyle Larson

Yes, Yung Money is 30. 

And over the last decade, Kyle Larson has lived up to the hype. Put him in any vehicle with four wheels and watch the magic happen.

Last year, en route to winning the NASCAR championship for Hendrick Motorsports, the Elk Grove, California, native scored 30 wins in 89 races starting with the Chili Bowl Nationals in January, followed by the Kings Royal, Knoxville Nationals, Prairie Dirt Classic and 10 Cup points races, the All-Star Race and the Cup season finale to claim his first title—and he kept racing and winning after that.

“Three years ago, I didn't think that I would ever have a Cup championship--especially two years ago,” said Larson alluding to his suspension from the sport for a racial slur. “You always hope to win a championship every year, but it wasn't quite like super realistic until this opportunity. 

“Glad that I was able to take advantage of a great season last year with great race cars and everything clicking, and we're able to to win a championship--and I hope we can win more in the future.” 

On Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Larson could become the fourth Cup driver to win on his birthday. In the last 10 road course events, Larson has scored three wins. But after time trials on Saturday, he’s not holding out a lot of hope.

“Normally I do a good job in qualifying,” said Larson, who starts 22nd. “I didn’t do a good job, so a little bit--a lot a bit--frustrated with myself. I don't think our car is fantastic, but you know I shouldn't have qualified as bad as I did, so just clean it up and hopefully be better (on Sunday). 

“It's going be a stretch for sure, but I mean anything can happen. So obviously you have to be great to win on your birthday and to celebrate a win here in Indy, you get to stay here all week. like I am. It would be fun to not be in a hurry to get out of the track or anything like that and have a lot of friends here. And I'm going to have dinner with everybody Sunday night, so it would be  awesome to be celebrating a win as well on your birthday, but I think we're a ways away from that with me not laying down a good lap in qualifying.”

At 30, Larson shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. This weekend, he competed in the Prairie Dirt Classic at Fairbury (Illinois) American Legion Speedway in a Super Dirt Late Model. Last year, after becoming the first driver to win both a World of Outlaws Sprint Car and Late Model feature, he qualified fourth at Fairbury but finished 18th. This week, Larson will return to midget racing in the BC39 at the IMS dirt track. 

 But regardless of where Larson goes or what he races, success usually follows. Still, Larson at 30?

“Yeah, I guess 30 is a milestone,” Larson said with a laugh. “I feel good. Cool to celebrate a birthday here in Indy. I've not really reflected on my career and it's hard to reflect on it right now, especially when you still have hopefully another 30 years of racing or so. So, it's been good, especially the last three to five years I feel like it's been really good. And you hope to have many more good years.”