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Kyle Larson, one of NASCAR's hottest prospects has been named to take over the No. 42 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevy SS, currently driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, next year in the Sprint Cup Series.
The 21-year old Japanese-American, in his first year in NASCAR's Nationwide Series, has yet to visit Victory Lane, and may be best known to casual fans as the driver of the car which went through the crossover gate at Daytona International Speedway in February.
Industry observers think that the timing may be premature.
Team owner, Chip Ganassi, insists that his protégé is ready for the move up to the major leagues of stock car racing.
"Obviously, the guy is ready," Ganassi said. "Like some of the smarter people in the sport have said, maybe a Cup car is a little more like his style than a Nationwide car. It wouldn't be the first time, and time will tell. The kid's ready."
Ironically sprint cars, the open wheel roadsters which weigh 1400lbs and have 900 hp where Larson has come from, are more like Sprint Cup cars than the Nationwide car in the power to weight ration.
As Larson explained “I'm used to having way too much horsepower. I think it will translate well to the Cup cars.”
As for the 37-year old ex-Formula One driver and Indy car champ, Montoya, Ganassi hasn't ruled out running the Colombian in other series.
“I think there are always opportunities in our team that seem to present themselves,” said Ganassi. You never know from time to time when those come along.
“With all the different cars we have, it does make for some great opportunities at different times. I'm certainly not counting him out of any opportunities or potential opportunities coming along.”
The 21-year old Japanese-American, in his first year in NASCAR's Nationwide Series, has yet to visit Victory Lane, and may be best known to casual fans as the driver of the car which went through the crossover gate at Daytona International Speedway in February.
Industry observers think that the timing may be premature.
Team owner, Chip Ganassi, insists that his protégé is ready for the move up to the major leagues of stock car racing.
"Obviously, the guy is ready," Ganassi said. "Like some of the smarter people in the sport have said, maybe a Cup car is a little more like his style than a Nationwide car. It wouldn't be the first time, and time will tell. The kid's ready."
Ironically sprint cars, the open wheel roadsters which weigh 1400lbs and have 900 hp where Larson has come from, are more like Sprint Cup cars than the Nationwide car in the power to weight ration.
As Larson explained “I'm used to having way too much horsepower. I think it will translate well to the Cup cars.”
As for the 37-year old ex-Formula One driver and Indy car champ, Montoya, Ganassi hasn't ruled out running the Colombian in other series.
“I think there are always opportunities in our team that seem to present themselves,” said Ganassi. You never know from time to time when those come along.
“With all the different cars we have, it does make for some great opportunities at different times. I'm certainly not counting him out of any opportunities or potential opportunities coming along.”