WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Should NASCAR officials successful clear the nearly foot of snow that fell Saturday at Bowman Gray Stadium, racers will experience rare conditions when the Cook Out Clash is run at the legendary quarter-mile race track.
Reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Larson chatted with the media on Saturday and discussed the unusual situation that saw the race delayed until Wednesday, and about the season that lies ahead.
“Yeah, I don’t know if I’ve ever competed when it’s that cold,” Larson said. “But thankfully for us, we’re inside of a stock car, which is basically like an oven, so that’ll help. I think, honestly, I think it’ll feel fine for us inside the car. I wouldn’t be surprised if you still break somewhat of a sweat in there, just because of all the temps from internally, and it’s not windy in there because we’re going so slow.
“But yeah, I just feel for the the crews, the mechanics, the fans and NASCAR officials; everybody who’s there outside in the cold. But, you know, we love the sport, and we’ll compete in any conditions, I think. I just look forward to the challenge; just seeing kind of how the race plays out and seeing what teams can step up.”
Larson talked about how drivers handle such delays.
“Well, I think we all assumed it probably wasn’t going to happen tomorrow anyways,” he said of the race being moved to Monday. “So, in my head, I think I was already planning for Monday, or potentially even further. But, really, it just kind of gets you excited that you can enjoy the snow with your family. As soon as I’m done with this, I’m going to head over to my shop. We’ve got a good hill. We’ll probably build a jump; put the kids on some tubes and sleds, and go have some fun for the next couple days.
“So, just try to make the most out of the situation, and also be ready to go when it is time to go. You know, we’ve already done our pre-event packet; going over the race weekend, practice, qualifying, all of that. So, I feel like we have a good plan. Now, we just have to wait until we get on track.”
A snow delay is something new for everyone.
“Yeah, well for one, I don’t have experience, really, with a snow delay, especially one as heavy as it is, so I think that’ll be new,” Larson said. “But as always, what are you going to do? You know, we all just have to ride it out and see. So, yeah, I think that’s obviously the approach.”
The Cup Series point season begins with the Daytona 500, which is a race the driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 has never won.
“It’s always going to be prestigious and feel prestigious. You know, I’ve never won the race. I’ve never even finished top five, so I don’t know what the feeling is like,” Larson said. “I would imagine the feeling of winning is still going to be extremely massive, if it ever happens.
“But in a way, yeah, not that I fully agree with those comments, and I don’t know if that’s exactly how they’re meant to be anyways, but it is difficult to get really excited about the winner or who’s won when usually there’s a 20-car pile-up and the guy running toward the back squeaks through, and then misses another wreck later and wins.
“But that’s the race and that’s how it is. You know, I think William Byron winning two in a row is not a fluke, so the cream does rise. He’s won there in the old-style car and this car.”
Despite his lack of success at Daytona, Larson remains confident.
“Well, I would say, honestly, I always have confidence when we go to superspeedways because I feel like we do a good job,” Larson said. “Just prior to last year, you know, I would just get caught up in wrecks and whatnot, and last year just worked out where the wrecks avoided me. So, you know, I wouldn’t say I have any more confidence this year than I did last year. I just hope that we have the same sort of good fortune as we did last year… maybe it can be a few spots better to get a win.”
