Kyle Larson qualified third for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix. (Photo: Patrick Vallely | NASCAR Digital Media)
AVONDALE, Ariz. — Kyle Larson heads into Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway with momentum and determination, seeking his second career Cup title after a season of rebuilding and growth.
On Saturday, Larson, driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet fielded by Hendrick Motorsports, qualified third for the championship race after posting the 11th-fastest overall speed in Friday’s practice session. His performance over 10 consecutive laps in practice was even more encouraging, ranking second, signaling that Larson and his team could be poised for a strong showing in the desert heat.
“Yeah, I think this year has been a lot of building for us,” Larson said during Championship 4 Media Day on Thursday. “Our team looks completely different really than what it was to start the season. We have a 90% new pit crew, some different team members than what we had to start the year. Then we struggled throughout the summer. That made us build some mental toughness, I feel like, and work extra hard.
“This year has been really rewarding. Getting to the Final 4 is very rewarding. I would want nothing more than to cap off the hard work with a championship. I think everybody on our team, everybody’s team deserves it, but I really believe our team deserves to be a champion this year.”
Larson said the team’s season was defined by a midyear dip in performance and the need to adapt.
“I mean, from start to finish, it hasn’t. I think earlier in the year we were better than we’ve been in other years. Yeah, then our cars kind of got off for a bit. I’m sure I got off, as well. Yeah, I would say the last 12 or 13 weeks, maybe not all those weeks in that, but in that time frame I feel like we have gotten better.”
“Each week we continue to kind of rise. I think I feel we’re peaking at the right time. I think our short track package has gotten way better. Just really excited to get on track and see if it’s going to be what I expect it to be. Yeah, all four of us are going to be really good, so we’ll see.”
Larson emphasized the competitiveness of this year’s Final 4, saying no clear favorite has emerged.
“Really any four that ever makes the Championship 4 is really usually really strong. I would say this year there’s not really, like, a favorite I would say. Other years you could pick a favorite. I don’t think you can pick one this year.”
Comparing this group to the 2021 Championship 4, Larson noted the challenge in facing four top-level teams.
Kyle Larson feels there is no clear favorite in this year’s Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo: Michael Donahue | The Podium Finish)
“In 2021, I mean, probably from what I remember the four best teams. I don’t know how good Harvick was that year. It was Denny, who won a bunch. Denny and I won a bunch, Chase won a bunch, and Truex also. That was also a tough Final 4. Obviously back then everybody would say I was the favorite because of how many races I’d won, but as far as competitiveness, I felt like we all four were really, really good. Same with this four.”
Hendrick Motorsports’ focus on improving its flat short-track program has Larson confident entering Phoenix, which shares characteristics with tracks where the team has recently excelled.
“I would say this is probably the best I’ve felt about what we’re bringing for the Championship 4 compared any other year. Everyone at Hendrick Motorsports went to work on getting our flat short track program better. We went to Gateway and we were super strong and New Hampshire we were really good and Phoenix is somewhat similar to those places so I feel like we’ll have a better opportunity to win a championship than we ever had in the Next Gen era. That motivates me and gets me excited.”
Larson also praised the collective effort of his team throughout the season.
“Making the final four is really tough to begin with. Huge props to everyone at Hendrick Motorsports for working hard and getting us to this point. We have a 50 percent chance of winning Mr. H a 15th championship.”
“I would love to win a second championship. I’ve said this before, but I really look up to Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon and to win one more would move me closer to matching guys that I looked up to or surpass them someday. We’re going to try to execute like we have been here lately and see where that puts us.”
Mentorship from NASCAR legends has been an important factor for Larson. He spoke about the influence of Jeff Gordon on both his driving and personal growth.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s really awesome to have a guy that I looked up to a lot as a child, and my career path followed his a lot. For him to always say nice things about me makes me feel good.”
“Obviously, too, him being a big part of Hendrick Motorsports, he gets to see how William and I operate, kind of get a glimpse into us and what makes us who we are. Yeah, it’s cool. He’s always there, as well, if we ever need to bounce questions off.”
Larson credited his development this season to the team’s willingness to evolve and the challenges faced during midseason struggles.
“This year has been really rewarding. Getting to the Final 4 is very rewarding. I would want nothing more than to cap off the hard work with a championship. I think everybody on our team, everybody’s team deserves it, but I really believe our team deserves to be a champion this year.”
Larson also reflected on his own mental approach going into the championship weekend.
“I don’t know. I mean, I remember being pretty grounded and laid back in 2021 because we had a great season to that point. I was pretty content whether we won or lost the championship that we had an amazing year. Then I think the experience that I’ve had in the Final 4 since then has made me just as calm this time.
“I don’t know. I felt pretty good about things this week. Felt like I’ve handled it well, the plannings of family and friends, whatnot, coming out, through the other experiences. Yeah, just glad we’re one day away from finally getting on track to go race.”
Practice and qualifying performance gives Larson optimism about his championship chances. His third-place starting spot and strong 10-lap practice average suggest the No. 5 Chevrolet can contend for the title, allowing him to avoid the unpredictability of mid-pack traffic.
“Yeah, all four of us are going to be really good, so we’ll see,” Larson said about the upcoming race.
Phoenix Raceway, a 1-mile tri-oval known for its flat turns and challenging braking zones, has historically favored drivers who can carry momentum and manage tire wear effectively. Larson’s team has focused on improving their short-track program all season, a factor he believes will pay dividends in the championship race.
Kyle Larson hopes to join the club of drivers with multiple NASCAR Cup Series championships if he prevails at Phoenix. (Photo: Patrick Vallely | NASCAR Digital Media)
“I would say the last 12 or 13 weeks, maybe not all those weeks in that, but in that time frame I feel like we have gotten better. Each week we continue to kind of rise. I think I feel we’re peaking at the right time. I think our short track package has gotten way better. Just really excited to get on track and see if it’s going to be what I expect it to be.”
The stakes for Larson are high. A second Cup championship would place him among NASCAR’s elite, fulfilling a career ambition shaped by admiration for drivers like Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart.
“I really look up to Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon and to win one more would move me closer to matching guys that I looked up to or surpass them someday. We’re going to try to execute like we have been here lately and see where that puts us.”
As the sun sets over the Arizona desert, Larson and Hendrick Motorsports prepare for a decisive Sunday, where strategy, execution, and composure under pressure will determine the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series champion. Larson’s combination of experience, team improvements, and practice speed position him to contend, but the winner-take-all nature of a single championship race ensures no margin for error.
Larson enters the race confident in his team, focused on the task at hand, and motivated by both the history of the sport and the chance to write his own legacy. The outcome at Phoenix Raceway will not only crown a champion but could also define Larson’s trajectory in the Next Gen era of NASCAR.
Editor’s Notes
Michele Aerin contributed to this article directly onsite from Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.
