Kyle Larson recalls memories of Terry Labonte, explains what he’s learned since joining Hendrick

For the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway, Kyle Larson is bringing back another classic Terry Labonte-inspired NASCAR paint scheme. Getting to do these throwback schemes has allowed Larson to get to know Labonte more in the last couple of years.

Last season it was Corn Flakes. This year, the Frosted Flakes car is back. Well, it is a HendrickCars.com look-a-like. So, not the same, but very cool in its own right.

Speaking to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, Larson was asked about his relationship to Labonte. Before, as a fan of racing, and now, as he has gotten to know him.

“I don’t know, I mean, I didn’t watch a whole lot of NASCAR back then,” Larson explained. “I don’t know, obviously, I was a Jeff Gordon fan. There was never anybody I remembered like not cheering for. Like, I ate Kellogg’s, so I’m sure I was a Terry Labonte fan.”

Kyle Larson joined Hendrick in 2021. Since then, he has gotten to know Labonte.

“Jeff’s told a lot of stories about how much of a tough competitor he was,” Larson explained. “Like, his personality is very quiet. But like, I remember Jeff saying, you never really knew what he was thinking. When he would pay you back, he would pay you back big. So, I thought that was really cool. Yeah, just the little bit I’ve been around him now since I’ve been at Hendrick, yeah, he just seems like a great guy, down to earth, easy going. Very similar like, I feel like myself you know, just quiet, calm, mellow. All that. Yeah, he’s just a legend so it’s cool to get to spend a little bit of time around him and doing things like this.”

Kyle Larson honoring ‘legend’ Terry Labonte

A legend, indeed. I’m sure Terry Labonte is honored to have Kyle Larson representing his old looks on the track. Larson already has a championship and 30 career wins. He won’t turn 33 until this July and has barely entered his prime as a race car driver.

Fresh off his win at Homestead-Miami, I’m sure Kyle Larson has big plans to get to victory lane at Darlington as well. He can run right up on that wall better than almost anyone in the Cup Series.

The chances of Larson winning at Darlington are pretty good. He has a Southern 500 win and is great at these intermediate tracks. Even at Chip Ganassi, Larson was pulling off top-three finishes regularly at The Lady in Black.

Are we going to see Kyle Larson park this Frosted Flakes-inspired car in victory lane? Or will it be another rough day at Darlington for Larson, like it was last spring in May?