Kyle Larson, who pilots the No. 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series, added a second championship to his achievements in November at Phoenix Raceway. Known for his willingness to compete in multiple racing disciplines, Larson is especially drawn to dirt track competition and often races 410 dirt sprint cars as the co-owner of the High Limit Racing Series.
While Larson is celebrated for his success, his adventures on dirt tracks don’t always go smoothly—sprint car crashes are famously intense, and recently Larson, along with racer Corey Day, was involved in dramatic incidents on the dirt circuit. This aspect of his career has not gone unnoticed by Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, who follows Larson’s extracurricular races with keen interest, fueled by frequent TikTok updates.
Rick Hendrick’s Unique Approach to Staying Connected
Rick Hendrick, affectionately known as Mr. H, is an avid TikTok viewer and closely follows his drivers’ performances beyond NASCAR. Rather than sending routine check-ins, Hendrick’s texts to Larson are reserved for sharing TikTok clips highlighting the moments Larson’s sprint car racing ends in crashes, including incidents from years prior. This has become a running theme between the two, as revealed by Larson in a recent podcast appearance.
I saw we had a party a few days later,
Kyle Larson stated via The Driver’s Project Podcast.
Larson described a recent exchange with Hendrick during a post-race celebration, saying Hendrick asked about his recent crash and expressed some worry. Larson pointed out another incident involving Corey Day, though Hendrick had not seen it.
During their conversation, Hendrick’s TikTok habits became clear:
Rick has this thing. So, he’s on TikTok all the time. He’ll send me random, the only time he texts me, is he’ll send me TikToks of me crashing sprint cars.
This trend isn’t only about reliving tense moments; Hendrick mixes concern with humor, reminding Larson of the risks with comments like:
He said, ‘Good to see how safe this is. Not!’ So, he loves to send TikToks of me crashing sprint cars from like years before.
Sometimes, the clips are so outdated that Larson feels the need to reassure his boss:
He’s like, ‘Are you okay?’ I’m like, ‘Rick, that was from like six years ago.
Other Hendrick Drivers Adjust Their Dirt Racing Plans
Larson is not the only Hendrick Motorsports driver enticed by dirt racing. Alex Bowman, who raced for the same team, founded his own dirt sprint car team and competed as recently as 2023. Unlike Larson, Bowman stepped back from dirt races after Rick Hendrick encouraged him to halt his dirt career, a decision discussed when Bowman announced his retirement from dirt racing in December 2023.
The issue of sprint car racing and the dangers associated with crashes is a persistent concern for team executives. Episodes like those discussed on The Driver’s Project Podcast highlight the emotional tension and frustration for team owners like Hendrick, who balance their drivers’ passions with concerns for safety and the primary goal of winning championships in NASCAR’s top series.
The Impact of Sprint Car Crashes on Larson’s NASCAR Career
Despite the risks and the occasional emotional strain that arises from his dirt racing exploits, Kyle Larson maintains a dominant presence in the NASCAR Cup Series, evidenced by his recent title victory. His willingness to participate in multiple forms of motorsports, including the high-adrenaline world of sprint car racing, continues to generate both anxiety and pride for those around him, especially Rick Hendrick. As the sport moves forward, the relationship between drivers’ on-track ambitions and team owners’ concerns remains a point of emotional tension, with TikTok crash videos now an oddly personal bridge between driver and boss.
The Driver’s Project Podcast Ep. 67 Presented by @keizerwheels
Rick Hendrick still gets nervous about @KyleLarsonRacin & @corey_day_ running sprint cars.
Full episode links 👇
YouTube: https://t.co/dzS9qzr1A0
Spotify: https://t.co/kEtXsSIoGn
Apple: https://t.co/8dJJJqSzol pic.twitter.com/vQ8Qd6naA7
— The Drivers Project (@thedriversproj) December 7, 2025
