"Even when I lost races like that, I've enjoyed racing Matt Kenseth" - Kyle Larson on memorable race with Chase Elliott & Kenseth

Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson recently reminisced about the time he battled Matt Kenseth in the final stages of the race at Dover back in 2016, calling it enjoyable despite missing out on victory lane.

During the Cup Series race at Dover in 2016, Larson, who then raced for Chip Ganassi in the #42 Chevrolet, shared a close battle with Kenseth. The two were fighting for victory and in an amazing final lap of the 1.03-mile circuit, Larson could be seen slipping in chase for the win. Although he fought brilliantly, he could not win and finished in second place.

Talking about the race recently at Dover, Kyle Larson recalled that he enjoyed losing a race like that because of the intense action. He told Frontstretch:

"It was just a super fun battle, you know," Larson said (at 03:45). "I think you always like to think about the memories when you win, but even when I've lost races like that, I've enjoyed (racing) him. I have like a ton of respect for Matt and then Chase being in that battle too, you know, he hadn't won a Cup Race to that point so."

"I was the old style car like we were just slipping and sliding and it was fun and clean. You know really, really clean racing, which was good," he added.

Kyle Larson won his first Cup Series race later that season in Michigan.

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Kyle Larson discusses gaining Matt Kenseth's respect after 2016 race at Dover

Matt Kenseth had raced in the Cup Series for almost two decades when he faced the battle with the current Hendrick Motorsports driver. Larson said he respected Kenseth, and after they raced cleanly that day, it was mutual.

"So I know I earned Matt's respect that day and that was important to me as well and obviously it would have been nice to win it and get my I think first Cup win, maybe, at the time but it was just a super, you know, intense kind of final 20 laps or so," Larson told Frontstretch (at 04:13).

(Larson's final lap battle with Kenseth at Dover, 2016):

Since then, Kyle Larson, who now drives the #5 Chevy, has won 24 Cup Series races and the Championship in 2021. He still leads the table this season with one race win and has led over 500 laps.