NASCAR Star Erupts at Fans Over Trump Comparison; Wife Stuns in Daisy Dukes
Monday Morning Pit-Stop: Kyle Larson’s Insane Double, Joey Logano’s Win & Bristol Buzz
Welcome to the "Trump, Taylor & Kyle Larson, Oh My!" Edition
Your weekly NASCAR check-in that skips the boring stats and gives you the real story.
What Is This Column Anyway?
Monday Morning Pit-Stop is a weekly NASCAR column written by Zach Dean. It runs on OutKick.com and Fox News Digital.
Think of it like your funny, slightly sarcastic friend texting you on Monday morning: "Here’s what actually happened this weekend — no fluff, no corporate speak, just the good stuff."
TL;DR: If you want a normal, buttoned-up recap, go watch ESPN. If you want the truth (and jokes), stay here.
The Summer Slump Is Real (But Richmond Helped)
NASCAR summers can feel like a long, hot grind. Here’s why:
- Only one off-week all summer
- The playoffs (aka "The Chase") feel forever away
- The track schedule hasn’t been great lately
- Back in the day, we had Daytona in July and Bristol in August to spice things up
- Now? We basically pray Atlanta is good, or the whole summer is a wash
Important: Zach’s not saying NASCAR is broken — just that July/August usually feels like eating plain oatmeal every morning.
Good news: Richmond was decent! Not the best race ever, but way better than the "blah" we’ve had lately.
The Main Event: Kyle Larson’s Insane Saturday
What Happened? (Step-by-Step)
Kyle Larson pulled off something almost no human has ever done:
- Raced in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway (Virginia)
→ Finished 6th in the Cook Out 400 - Sprinted out of the track, jumped in a car, drove to the airport
- Flew to Knoxville, Iowa (got a police escort to the track — yes, really)
- Won the Knoxville Nationals — the Super Bowl of sprint car racing
The Knoxville Nationals = A 4-day sprint car tournament every August in Iowa. It’s the biggest, most prestigious sprint car race in the world. Winning it is a career-defining moment.
He Didn’t Even Think He’d Make It!
Larson thought bad weather would cancel the Knoxville race Saturday night. He woke up happy — "Great, I’ll race Sunday instead."
But the forecast improved (shocking, right?), so he had to go.
Larson’s exact words:
"When I woke up, the weather looked really bad… then it got better. I was bummed… then I was like, ‘No, it’s fine.’"
The Internet Was Tracking His Plane — Literally
According to FlightAware, Larson’s private plane was the #1 most tracked flight IN THE WORLD Saturday night.
Let that sink in.
More people were watching Kyle Larson’s flight than Donald Trump’s or Taylor Swift’s.
His crew chief, Cliff Daniels, was even giving him updates on the Knoxville race during the NASCAR race. They’ve won a billion races together — they trust each other.
Haters Gonna Hate (But They’re Wrong)
Some fans complained:
"He should focus on his REAL job!"
"He’s distracted!"
Zach’s response (paraphrased):
Piss all the way off.
Kyle Larson has been the best NASCAR driver on the planet for ~6 years.
He loves grassroots racing — the local tracks, the Busch Lights, the corn dogs, the fans who’ve been showing up since 1975.
That connection matters.
And oh yeah — he won both races.Bottom line: Kyle Larson isn’t "distracted." He’s built different.
Joey Logano Is Back (And People Are Mad… Again)
What Happened?
Joey Logano won at Richmond.
That’s two wins in a row (he also won the Brickyard 400 at Indy).
Why It Matters
- A few weeks ago, Logano was on the playoff bubble (maybe in, maybe out)
- Now? Championship favorite
- He won the 2024 title — and people lost their minds (fake outrage, says Zach)
- NASCAR literally changed the playoff format because of how loud the complaining was
Zach’s take:
"I thought it was silly then, and I still think it’s silly today. I’d love to see Logano shove another championship down everyone’s throats."
Bristol Is Coming — And It’s Gonna Be Emotional
Bristol Motor Speedway (Tennessee) is Kyle Busch’s favorite track ever.
He won there a lot in the yellow M&M’s car.
Now? Mars (M&M’s) left NASCAR. Kyle Busch left for RCR.
The iconic car hasn’t been seen in years.
Sam Busch (Kyle’s wife) got emotional talking about it:
"Bristol wasn’t just another race to him. He loved everything about that place. Some of the greatest moments in his career happened on that track, in the yellow M&M’s car."
Ty Gibbs (young driver, Joe Gibbs Racing) now has the pressure of bringing that legacy back.
Zach: "Go get ’em, kid! Man, I miss Kyle."
Off-Track Highlight: Natalie Decker at Richmond
Natalie Decker (driver, influencer, mom) had a dominant weekend at Richmond — off the track.
She was there supporting her husband, wearing daisy dukes, cheering loud.
Zach’s sign-off: "Here’s Natalie Decker in her daisy dukes cheering on her husband at Richmond to take us into another big week."
Summary: What You Need to Know
| Topic | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| Kyle Larson | Ran NASCAR Cup at Richmond (6th), flew to Iowa, won Knoxville Nationals — plane was #1 tracked in world |
| Haters | Mad he raced sprint cars? He’s the best NASCAR driver alive. Let him live. |
| Joey Logano | Won Richmond + Indy = Championship favorite (again). Zach’s rooting for him. |
| Bristol | Emotional return of Kyle Busch’s legacy. Ty Gibbs under pressure. |
| Natalie Decker | Crushed the weekend off-track. Daisy dukes included. |
| Next Race | New Hampshire — can Larson get his first Cup win of 2026? |
FAQ: Your Burning Questions, Answered
What is "The Double" Kyle Larson attempted?
A: Racing a NASCAR Cup race and a major sprint car race (Knoxville Nationals) on the same day. It requires flying between states, police escorts, and superhuman energy. Very few drivers ever try it.
Why was Kyle Larson’s plane the most tracked in the world?
A: Fans, media, and tracking sites (like FlightAware) were obsessed with whether he’d make it from Richmond to Knoxville in time. More people watched his flight than celebrity or political flights that night.
Why do some fans hate that Larson races sprint cars?
A: They think he should only focus on NASCAR. But Zach (and most hardcore fans) argue sprint cars make him sharper, connect him to grassroots fans, and he’s still winning in Cup too.
What happened with Joey Logano’s 2024 championship?
A: He won the title under the playoff format. A loud group of fans claimed it was "fake" or "lucky." NASCAR changed the entire playoff structure partly because of the backlash. Zach thinks that was an overreaction.
Why is Bristol such a big deal for Kyle Busch?
A: It was his track. He dominated there for years in the M&M’s car. Since Mars left NASCAR and Busch moved teams, that era is gone. Bristol 2026 will be the first time in years that legacy is honored — and Ty Gibbs is driving the car now.
Final Lap
Richmond delivered.
Larson made history.
Logano reminded everyone he’s elite.
Bristol’s gonna make us cry.
Natalie Decker won the fit.
See y’all at New Hampshire.
(Hopefully Larson naps first.)
Written by Zach Dean — OutKick NASCAR columnist, truth-teller, and sprint car apologist.
Published on OutKick.com & Fox News Digital.