Larson argued he is a more complete driver than the three-time Formula 1 world champion.

The comments came in the wake of Larson winning his third Knoxville Nationals title on Saturday.

The Knoxville Nationals is Sprintcar’s blue riband event, with previous winners including Donny Schatz, Brad Sweet, and Steve Kinser.

Larson’s comments came after runner-up, Giovanni Scelzi, was asked what it took to beat the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion.

“I don’t know what it takes to get to that next level,” Scelzi said.

“When I get there, I’ll let you know. Just being mentally strong, physically strong, is the key.

“Obviously Kyle runs three- to four-hundred-lap races that might not be as physically demanding, but it’s mentally draining for sure to run a stock car that long.

“He’s so good in every discipline, he’s probably the greatest driver ever to live,” he added.

“I don’t think it’s silly saying that. We all know.”

When that was put to him, Larson didn’t back away from the suggestion.

“I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver,” he asserted, according to FloRacing.

“There’s no way [Verstappen] can get into a Sprintcar and win the Knoxville Nationals.

“There’s no way he can go win the Chili Bowl. There’s no way he can go win a Cup race at Bristol.

“There’s probably no way I can go win a Formula 1 race at Monaco, but I think I’d have a better shot at him just because of the car element.

“That’s what gives me ease and confidence that, like, I know I’m better than him – maybe not in an open-wheel IndyCar or Formula 1 car, but that’s one discipline.

“I think I would beat him in everything else.”

Larson has 27 Cup Series wins to his name, with 176 top 10 finishes in a career that saw him debut in late 2013.

He has competed in the Cup Series full time since 2014, initially with Chip Ganassi before switching to Hendrick Motorsports in 2021.

The 32-year-old has also won races in the Xfinity and Truck Series, and in sportscars where he was part of Chip Ganassi’s 2015 Daytona 24 Hours winning team. His speedway successes include Sprintcars, Late Models, and Midgets.

Verstappen meanwhile has focused on the open-wheel racing since graduating from karting, having won more than 20 titles as a junior.

So rapid was his rise to Formula 1, just a single season of F3 after karting, that there were no championships before making his debut with Toro Rosso in 2015.

The 26-year-old Dutchman has won 61 races from 199 starts, and claimed three world championships to date.

He’s also a prolific sim racer, and routinely drives GT machinery in private track days.

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