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Dale Jr. Names NASCAR's Best 'Running The Wall' Driver

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Mar 27, 2025 1:47 PM ET

It was a thrilling race at Homestead-Miami this past week as Kyle Larson claimed victory at the Straight Talk Wireless 400. For NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr., the race also reinforced his favorite driver specializing in "running the wall."

On the latest episode of his Dale Jr. Download podcast, Dale Jr. declared that Homestead is one of the best tracks in the country for running the wall. He believes that suits Kyle Larson just fine as he's the best at doing exactly that.

“Racing at Homestead is a blast running the wall. There’s nobody that does it as good as Larson,” Dale Jr. said. “The reason why is because Larson enters on the wall. A lot of guys are scared to enter on the wall because they think, ‘Well, if I enter right on the wall, there’s no room for error. If I get in there a little too far, even a half a car length too far, I’m going to hit it.’ There’s zero room for error when you enter right on the wall.

“If you’re entering half a car length off the wall and slide in, by the time you get to the wall, you’re starting to go throttle, [Larson’s] already in the gas behind you. Mid-corner speed is where he’s beating your ass.”

Larson's win at Homestead-Miami Speedway marked his fifth-straight year of winning at least once in the NASCAR Cup Series. He has firmly established himself as one of NASCAR's elite all-around drivers and he hasn't even reached his 33rd birthday yet.

After his win in the Straight Talk Wireless 400, he detailed just how motivated he was to reach the checkered flag first.

“Definitely extra motivated. Given past history, I just wanted to take the green flag and kick everybody’s ass today, honestly,” Larson said, via On3 Sports. “I wanted to get the lead early and just dominate like I was yesterday. Then the green flag flew, and it was like the opposite. I was going backwards and getting pissed off in the helmet and just frustrated, but just figured that that day was not going to go like that. Then, yeah, you just forget about all that.

HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA - MARCH 21: Kyle Larson, driver of the #07 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 21, 2025 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)Chris Graythen/Getty Images

“I think just leading into the race, that’s what your thought process is. But then after ten laps or so, I quickly forgot about the wanting to kick everybody’s ass all race long. It was more, Let’s work hard at this and get a win. And that’s how the race played out.”

Larson is now second in the NASCAR Cup regular season standings behind William Byron.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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