"Life will look a lot different": Kyle Larson hints at retirement plans tied to his kids' future

Kyle Larson admits that his future in full-time NASCAR racing might depend on what life looks like seven years from now. The Hendrick Motorsports star, who is currently chasing his second championship, recently reflected on the long-term balance between racing and family.

At 33, Larson remains one of the sport’s most versatile competitors, racing across all the NASCAR tiers, dirt tracks, and even the Indy 500 earlier this year. But when asked how long he envisions himself competing full-time, Larson gave a candid response during his recent appearance on The Podium Finish’s Hot Seat.

“Yeah. That’s definitely a tough question to ask because I think that thought and idea probably changes every year, or probably even less than every year,” Larson said. “Every time I might think about it in my head, it might change. But, I think for me, I’m 33 right now. I think it’s realistic to see me race in Cup until I’m 40.” (9:20 onwards)

The 2021 Cup Series champion added that turning 40 would likely serve as a natural point to reassess what comes next.

Kyle Larson with son Cooper and daughter Audrey at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Source: Getty

The key factor, he said, would be how his three children, Owen, Audrey, and Cooper, continue to grow into their own paths.

“That's almost seven years from now. Owen will be going close to 18 years old by that point. And uh yeah, Audrey would be about 14 and Cooper would be, you know, about 10, which would be Owen’s age right now,” Larson added. “So, life will look a lot different at that point. It probably comes down to really what they’re into and all that. But I really enjoy what I’m doing right now and I just don’t know if that changes when I’m 40.”

Kyle Larson’s family has quietly built its own racing rhythm. His oldest son, Owen, and daughter Audrey both race regularly at Millbridge Speedway in Salisbury, North Carolina - a proving ground for many of NASCAR’s next-generation hopefuls.

Larson’s youngest, Cooper, is still a few years away but already growing up around racetracks. Earlier this year, Audrey made headlines with her first Millbridge victory, a moment Larson described as “really neat” and one that reminded him of his own early racing days.

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Kyle Larson reflects on his kids racing: "I wish I could go to a lot more of it"

Kyle Larson with his children at Iowa Speedway, June 16, 2024. Source: Imagn

As Kyle Larson revealed how his children’s future could directly shape his own, he added his regrets about not being present for them. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has been at the thick of the action in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and has also embraced commitments in sprint cars and dirt events.

“It’s a lot of fun to see them enjoying racing and getting really involved in it,” Larson added in the aforementioned interview. “I wish I could go to a lot more of it. I get to go to quite a bit, I feel like of their Millbridge stuff. But they’ve been traveling a fair bit this year - Oklahoma, Illinois, some places around the Midwest - and I don’t ever get to go to those. But it’s cool to see them building just lifelong memories.” (11:10 onwards)

Kyle Larson’s remarks also revealed how naturally his children have taken to the sport. He described Owen’s recent focus and improved results, while Audrey, he said, “has always put in a lot of work,” which makes him “pretty proud.” For the HMS ace, who’s currently set for his third Championship 4 appearance, the reflections come after nearly 15 years of racing.

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Edited by Riddhiman Sarkar