When Kyle Larson takes part in an Xfinity Series race, he isn't doing so solely to pursue a win. He's also on a mission to embarrass the field and set a benchmark.
This is not due to any animosity for the drivers in the field; he just wants to help them better prepare for NASCAR's top series.
"This is going to come across as very cocky, but I want to embarrass them, honestly," Larson said during an appearance on Kevin Harvick's "Happy Hour" podcast. "I want to embarrass NASCAR a little bit because they don't let Cup drivers run anymore.
"The kids probably think they are in a good spot, and they don't know where the bar is really at. I like to go run those Xfinity races and get 10-second leads to let them realize that they've got a lot of room to improve. I think that's only better for our sport."
Larson made these comments after two starts in Xfinity this season. He led 132 laps and built up a 16-second lead at Homestead-Miami Speedway earlier this season before a late caution and an ill-timed restart by Sam Mayer relegated him to a fourth-place finish.
Last weekend at Bristol, Larson returned to the Xfinity Series. He led 276 of the 300 laps and won the race after starting from the pole position. He lapped all but 11 other drivers during the race.
The 2021 Cup Series champion may be on a mission to embarrass the Xfinity field in 2025, but he was in a different position earlier in his career. Back in 2013 and '14, he was the one primarily competing in the Xfinity Series while facing off with a packed lineup of drivers.
The Xfinity field in that era featured such drivers as Chase Elliott, Chris Buescher, Elliott Sadler, Regan Smith, Matt DiBenedetto, and Ty Dillon. It also regularly had Cup drivers in the lineup.
One prominent example was the 2014 race at the now-defunct Auto Club Speedway. Larson scored his first career Xfinity win after leading 17 laps. He finished just ahead of Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, and Joey Logano. Matt Kenseth finished further back in the field.
Six weeks later, Larson won at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He finished just ahead of 2012 Cup champion Brad Keselowski. The race also had Harvick, Busch, and Kenseth in the lineup.
"Kyle Busch was kinda that guy," Larson told Dale Earnhardt Jr. during a podcast appearance this week. "It'd be like Kyle, Brad, or Joey. Matt Kenseth even ran a handful of (races). Even though I didn't beat them as often as they beat me, they helped elevate my skillset and pushed me to get better.
"Because you're only as good as your competition, and NASCAR has limited Cup guys running Xfinity now -- and Trucks -- so you're limiting the runway of those kids getting better. Which in turn, I feel only hurts the premier series down the road."
Larson has limited opportunities to compete in the Xfinity Series. In fact, he's done for the season as Corey Day takes over the Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for several races. But the possibility remains that the 2021 Cup champion will return next season as he continues his mission to embarrass/guide the next generation.