Kyle Larson responds to controversy with 'friend' David Gravel ahead of Kings Royal at Eldora

On Friday night during the Knight Before race at Eldora Speedway, Kyle Larson got into it with David Gravel post-race. Since then, the two have gone back and forth on social media and now the NASCAR driver has responded once again.

Kyle Larson has been bouncing between Eldora and Dover this weekend. He competed in his own High Limit Racing series earlier in the week. Larson took home the $100,000 prize live on FS1 in a joint broadcast with FloRacing.

David Gravel has said what he’s had to say. Today at Dover, Larson was asked about the controversy. He sort of dismissed it, but he doesn’t seem too regretful over the whole situation.

“I do consider him a friend and I would say that hard racing that I show or whatever out there, is more due to the things that have been going on behind the scenes for a year and a half,” Larson said via Dustin Albino of Jayski. “I’ve got no hard feelings with David at all. It’s good for the sport to build up the rivalries more, even between the two series and you have two top guys going at it. I think that’s what every sport wants is rivalries and fan bases need it. It’s an authentic one, which is good.”

The High Limit Racing and World of Outlaws beef is real, folks. There are legitimate tensions between teams, drivers, and the two series. Both are occupying Eldora Speedway this week for huge money purses and accolades. And there has been a lot of crossover, too.

David Gravel hits back at Kyle Larson after Eldora

David Gravel and Kyle Larson put on quite a show last night. They perhaps overshadowed Rico Abreu’s big night, as he took the checkered flag in the Knight Before race. Tonight is the coveted King’s Royal, which will pay a whopping $200,000.

After trash-talking in the post-race interview, Larson and Gravel went back and forth on Twitter to continue the beef. Gravel doesn’t believe Larson raced him with respect and made a point to say it.

“Two of your top [High Limit] drivers got hurt this week, maybe that would open your eyes on how to race with respect,” Gravel wrote in response to a Larson tweet. “If you and all your fans think [that’s] how you race in a sprint car is racing with respect you are fooled. I will take all the smoke. As far as the contract better make it good.”

Kyle Larson made a last turn, last lap pass on David Gravel to take third in the race. Gravel felt that the slide jobs were too intense. Larson is a part-time dirt driver since his full-time job is in NASCAR. To Gravel, he feels that the Hendrick driver doesn’t have enough to lose to push it that hard at the end of a race. Then again, what’s the point of racing?