Ex-NASCAR Driver Discloses ‘Unexpected’ Call That Landed Him Legendary Owner’s Team A surprising phone call changed a former NASCAR driver’s path, opening the door to race for one of the sport’s most

Not every NASCAR career begins with a polished pitch or a big-money sponsor. Sometimes, it starts with a phone call you never saw coming. For one rising driver back then, an unexpected ring from Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) didn’t just change his weekend, it launched a journey that would define his place in the Cup Series.

Who doesn’t know Kyle Larson’s struggle before entering NASCAR’s top tier? From team meetings that felt more like sponsorship auditions to finally landing a shot with Chip Ganassi, his story is one of talent meeting the right opportunity. As Larson recalled, “Within the first minute… [Chip] was ‘Oh yeah, how do we sign you up?’… He’s the only guy who didn’t mention a thing about any money.”

Ganassi brought Larson into CGR’s development pipeline in 2013, guiding him throu