KYLE LARSON'S TRIBUTE LEAVES TERRY LABONTE IN NO DOUBT ABOUT NASCAR LEGACY

Kyle Larson will honor two-time NASCAR Cup Series winner Terry Labonte while racing in throwback colors of his formerly famous Kellogg's paint scheme. The last win of Labonte's legendary career was at Darlington Raceway in 2003, with Larson set to use the throwback vehicle on the same track 21 years later.

Larson revealed the car to Labonte with the latter beaming with pride when shown his former colors - a vehicle that he won a NASCAR Cup Series in. He then told Larson he needs to see him win in the car.

He said: "Just put it in victory lane for me. That's my all-time favorite car right there. To be able to win the championship in that car and win the races that we won was really awesome. And, to have you behind the wheel at Darlington is going to be amazing. So, I can't wait. I'm going to be there."

Before revealing it to Labonte, Larson admitted that they had been working on the car for over a year. He said: "This is something we've been working on for really a few years, ever since I got to Hendrick. You know, I always get asked, 'What has been the coolest car that I've gotten to race?' And, I think this is going to take the cake. I'm excited about it."

Labonte won the 1996 NASCAR up Series in the Rick Hendricks vehicle - the team which Larson joined in 2021.

Fans have been loving Larson's throwback color schemes since images had emerged earlier this week, as one took to Twitter saying: "Trip down memory lane 7 years old at the time watching the Bristol night race when the almighty lord and savior #3 for blue collars kids spun Terry around to win."

Another said: "I'm not even a Larson fan, hell, the polar opposite of a Hendrick fan. But damn would this thing look great in victory lane," while a third person added: "It's about time they brought this one back. It's one of the most iconic schemes of the 90's. That's two great throwbacks for HMS so far this year. Can't wait to see what they have for Byron and Bowman."

Larson currently leads the NASCAR Cup Series standings, with 359 points so far through the 2024 campaign, with one win three poles and four top-five finishes. He is also the betting favorite to win at NASCAR Goodyear 400 (Darlington), with Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr his most likely rivals.

Before unveiling the car, Larson said: "This is such a cool scheme that's so special to fans, it's really a part of history. And so is Terry. Getting to surprise somebody like that, who's done so much for the sport, is going to be really cool."

2024-04-26T21:21:17Z dg43tfdfdgfd