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Post by Schmoopy1000 on Nov 15, 2014 2:01:32 GMT -5
After his broadside move gave him 11th place at Phoenix and a one-point margin, Newman was matter of fact about how the pressure of the championship race almost mandated such a maneuver. He said that Larson, who careened into the wall and limped under the checkered flag, understood as much when he reached out to him Monday evening, a day after the Eliminator Round finale.
"He said he was mad for about 10 minutes and then it kind of hit him what all was on the line," Newman said. "My reassurance to him was two things, that someday when I'm in that position and he's in that position, I said he can use my four tires and make eight if he wants to, because I understand. The second part of it was, and the quite frank part of it was, I could've just gone in there and just dumped him. I chose, and hopefully had enough class in people's eyes, that I didn't do that. I did it the best way I could in order for him to be able to finish the race, too."
I really like Larsons attitude. I think he can be the next Davey Allison.
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Post by Schmoopy1000 on Nov 15, 2014 4:16:11 GMT -5
found some more on Jayski where Larson was answering questions on it.
Larson, met with members of the media at Homestead-Miami Speedway and discussed his conversation with Ryan Newman this week, the transcript in part: Q) DO YOU WANT TO KICK RYAN NEWMAN'S BUTT AFTER LAST WEEK? Larson: "No, I didn't want to kick his butt. He called me this week and we talked. I told him I was upset for 10 minutes then I realized Ryan (Newman) knew what was on the line for him. I think there are a lot of people out here that probably would have done the same thing that he did. At least he is in the Chase; it would be a great move if he goes on to win the championship. Like I said, I get over things pretty quickly." Q) WOULD YOU HAVE DONE THE SAME THING IF YOU WERE IN HIS POSITION? Larson: "It's hard to really say until you are in that position. I got a ton of criticism a couple of years ago when I did an even probably worse move at a late model race. Yeah, I don't know, it's hard to say, but there is a ton on the line at that point." Q) DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE STILL LEARNING WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE? Larson: "Yeah, maybe a little bit. I think in the Cup series most people race with respect, so I think I've gotten a lot better with that throughout my career so far, last year in Nationwide and this year in Cup. I feel like I've gotten a lot better with give and take and things like that. With this new format it kind of throws a little different curve into it, where in the Chase each race is so important, so you see people take chances like that. Yeah, it's hard to say if you would do the same thing in that point in time." Q) AFTER LAST WEEK WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOU AND (RYAN) NEWMAN IN THE CLOSING LAPS ON SUNDAY IF YOU ARE RACING AROUND ONE OF THOSE FOUR WHAT DO YOU DO? Larson: "I just race them how I have raced them all season long I think. Hopefully I don't get into any of them. I got into Ty Dillon here a couple of years ago and he was going for a Truck championship and I felt horrible after that. I don't want to go through that again. I'm going to try my best to get a win and if they are in front of me I'm definitely going to try and pass him, but not do anything stupid or crazy to ruin their chances of winning a championship. Because none of them have won a championship so I know how much it means to them." Q) YOU TALKED TO RYAN VIA PHONE? Larson: "Yeah, he called me Tuesday maybe." Q) HOW DID THAT GO? WHAT WAS THE TONE LIKE? Larson: "Oh it was fine. He said he was waiting for a coyote to stick it's head out so he could shoot it. He said he was out there on his farm, but I mean like I said I was upset for 10 minutes and I was over it. I understood the situation and what was at stake for him. He just kind of explained himself. I was totally fine. I like (Ryan) Newman a lot. I think he's a great driver. He came from an open wheel background so I have kind of always been a fan of his. Like I said I was over it pretty quick."(Team Chevy)(11-15-2014)
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