"Is that an Asian joke" - When Kyle Larson joked with a NASCAR reporter during video games with Denny Hamlin
Kyle Larson once joked with a pit reporter while playing video games with Denny Hamlin at Darlington Raceway. Moreover, the Hendrick Motorsports driver gave a hilarious response when the NASCAR reporter was surprised to find Larson playing PGA in the hauler.
After a 2019 rain-delayed Bojangles' Southern 500 race, Larson, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Hamlin, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. passed the time golfing on the play station. At that moment, the NASCAR reporter approached them and said:
"I'm shocked, this is what you're doing Larson."
The 2021 Cup Series champion noted this remark and asked if it was an Asian stereotypical joke about playing video games, he said:
"Why? Is that an Asian joke?... I know I'll probably get in trouble for that but I'm Asian, I could say it."
This cracked up #11 Toyota driver Hamlin, who was teamed up with Larson, as he went on to elaborate on the game and said:
"We have two-man teams. Kyle's the best, of course, because he is Asian and and I'm the worst at the video games so it's these two[Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Josh Peterman] versus us."
However, after Larson bagged the #5 Chevy ride with Hendrick Motorsports, Hamlin believes their friendship dynamics have now changed as they compete fiercely in the Cup Series races.
"It's very difficult to keep friendship on the racetrack," Denny Hamlin reflects on his friendship with Hendrick's star Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin's on-track rivalry was discussed throughout the 2024 NASCAR regular-season races. While conversing with veteran driver Kenny Wallace, the three-time Daytona 500 winner Hamlin reflected on his relationship with Hendrick Motorsports driver Larson.
Speaking with Wallace, the 44-year-old Hamlin said:
"I think we’ve been friends off the racetrack for a very long time. I think that our friendship was always better before we started competing for race wins against each other. I think, certainly, when he got in the Hendrick number five car, he stepped into a top-tier organization, he’s finally getting that top equipment, that the rest of us got, now he’s showing what his ability is." [0:25]
Hamlin continued:
"What I’ve learned over time though is that it is very difficult to keep a friendship on the racetrack as well."
Hamlin also claimed he isn't as close to Larson as he once was. However, he has no complaints with the current dynamic as he believes they need to "push as much as we can to win for ourselves and our own team."
The JGR driver Hamlin finished eighth in the final driver's standings and accumulated three wins. On the other hand, the Rick Hendrick driver Larson accumulated six wins throughout the season and ended the year at P6.