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NASCAR Cup Series

Kyle Larson Aims for 4th Las Vegas Victory, Starts 6th

Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson looks on during Saturday’s on track sessions for the South Point 400 at Las Vegas. (Photo: Patrick Vallely | NASCAR Digital Media)

LAS VEGAS — For Kyle Larson, Las Vegas Motor Speedway has long been a track of opportunity and execution. With three victories already on his résumé at the 1.5-mile desert oval, the driver of the No. 5 Zac Brown Band/HendrickCars.com Chevrolet enters Sunday’s South Point 400 not just as one of the favorites, but as a proven master of the venue. Yet as the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs begin the Round of 8, Larson knows past success guarantees nothing.

“We have a great history at (Las Vegas) but you can never expect to have a good result any time you go to a race,” Larson said before Saturday’s on-track sessions. “But I do feel like we’ve learned some things on our mile-and-a-half program, so I am excited to get there and see if we can match what we had at Kansas if not be a little better.”

That sense of grounded confidence has defined Larson’s playoff demeanor. He and his Hendrick Motorsports team know that while their Vegas record provides comfort, the stakes now are higher than ever. The Round of 8 determines which four drivers will compete for the championship at Phoenix Raceway, and the easiest way to advance is to win.

Larson starts sixth for Sunday’s 400-mile race after posting solid one-lap speed in qualifying. His practice session, however, suggested a mixed outlook. He was ninth-fastest on the single-lap chart but only 27th in 10-lap consecutive averages. The numbers might not reflect race-winning form, yet Larson has repeatedly proven that practice speed is not always predictive of Sunday performance.

At this track alone, he has shown the ability to adapt, find balance through long green-flag runs, and capitalize on pit strategy when it matters most. Larson’s 2021 victory here came in dominant fashion, while his 2023 and 2024 triumphs were defined by precise adjustments and late-race composure. For a driver renowned for his versatility, few tracks have matched his comfort level at Las Vegas.

“There’s a lot of experienced drivers that made it to the Round of 8,” Larson said. “And I think that experience allows you to kind of get to the round throughout the playoffs. I guess I never thought about that, but it’s impressive. Hopefully we can do a good job to take it on. This weekend will feel good. We run well here at Vegas, and I feel like we’ve gotten our cars better again on this style of track. So, we’ll try to get out there and see where we stack up.”

That measured approach has served Larson well in 2025. His season has balanced flashes of dominance with methodical consistency, keeping him among the elite performers in the Cup Series. Each round of the playoffs has brought its own challenges, but Larson’s composure and adaptability have been his trademarks.

Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson’s unique No. 5 Zac Brown Band/HendrickCars.com Chevrolet could be a factor in Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas. (Photo: Patrick Vallely | NASCAR Digital Media)

Las Vegas represents a critical test of that balance. It’s a track where clean air, tire management, and pit execution can make or break a run. It’s also one of the few intermediates where Larson’s driving style, aggressive but calculated, consistently pays dividends.

Even so, his team faced questions after a relatively modest showing in long-run pace during practice. Larson, as usual, stayed even-keeled, noting that adjustments and conditions can shift dramatically once the race begins. Hendrick Motorsports’ engineering group has a proven record of finding speed between Saturday afternoon and Sunday’s green flag.

The 2025 season has also been marked by several changes in NASCAR’s technical landscape, including tire updates and the forthcoming horsepower increase for short tracks and road courses next year. Larson, known for his technical insight, was asked about the impact of both developments.

“I don’t remember it feeling way different,” Larson said about the new intermediate tire. “It had been so long since we’ve been on an intermediate that I don’t quite remember what it was like before. I don’t think it was way different.”

His response reflected the pragmatic way he evaluates change — without overreacting to variables that may not dramatically alter his approach behind the wheel. That same realism carried over to his thoughts on the upcoming horsepower increase.

“I’m happy. I think it’s definitely a step probably in the right direction or in a better direction,” Larson said. “I would encourage you all and fans to not overpromote it like it’s going to fix everything. I did a test recently at Kershaw, and nobody told me that I had higher horsepower, and I never really realized it. So I wouldn’t say it’s going to feel different or look crazy different. I think it’ll be better, but it’s not going to fix everything.”

That honesty is a hallmark of Larson’s perspective, one shaped by his background across multiple disciplines of racing. From dirt ovals to Cup superspeedways, he focuses less on hype and more on execution. As the playoffs tighten, that approach may again prove decisive.

The No. 5 team’s performance at Kansas earlier in the playoffs offered both confidence and lessons. While Larson wasn’t victorious, his car showed strong mid-run speed and stability in traffic — attributes essential for success at Las Vegas. His comment about trying to “match what we had at Kansas” underscores that he and crew chief Cliff Daniels are zeroing in on refinement rather than reinvention.

Las Vegas offers a similar track surface and aerodynamic demands, meaning the data from Kansas can guide their race-day approach. But unlike Kansas, Vegas is notorious for how quickly the sun and temperature swings alter track grip, forcing constant adaptation. For Larson, who excels at reading those changes from the cockpit, that variability often plays to his advantage.

He’ll need every bit of that skill on Sunday. The Round of 8 opener typically brings aggressive racing and shifting playoff scenarios. Stage points matter, but so does the ability to manage the race toward the closing laps. Larson’s Vegas victories have come by finding that balance, maintaining position near the front, and capitalizing on late restarts.

The No. 5 team’s chemistry also remains one of its greatest strengths. Daniels’ calm radio presence complements Larson’s intuitive feel for handling and pace. Together, they’ve built one of the sport’s most effective driver-crew chief partnerships — one capable of turning an average weekend into a winning one.

Behind the statistics and strategy, though, is a simple truth: Larson thrives on competition. His calm tone in media sessions belies a deep hunger to perform. Every race is an opportunity to test himself against the best, and Las Vegas provides a stage where his precision and bravery often shine.

Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson pursues his third Championship 4 appearance starting with Sunday’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas. (Photo: Matthew T. Thacker | Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Three wins here already place him among the best at this track in the modern era. A fourth would not only tie him with some of the sport’s greats in Vegas history but also secure his spot in the Championship 4, removing the uncertainty of Talladega and Martinsville. It would also further validate Hendrick Motorsports’ continued mastery of intermediate tracks, a cornerstone of their championship formula.

Larson’s confidence stems not from assumption but from preparation. His car’s race trim might not have topped the charts, but that rarely worries him. He’s seen weekends where a quiet Saturday turns into a spectacular Sunday. He’s also experienced the volatility of this playoff round, where fortune can shift with one late caution or pit call.

Still, there’s a sense that Larson relishes that uncertainty. It’s part of what makes him one of the most compelling drivers of his generation. He knows that no two Vegas races ever unfold the same way, but his record shows he adapts faster than most.

As the sun sets on Sunday and the desert lights take over, Larson’s focus will narrow to the rhythm of the race — lap after lap, adjustment after adjustment, searching for the balance that lets him attack the corners just a little harder than everyone else. If he finds it again, Las Vegas may once more belong to the No. 5 Chevrolet.

For a driver who’s already proven that mastery here, the stakes are clear but familiar. One more victory would bring not only another trophy but also the peace of mind that comes with knowing he’s locked into the fight for the Cup at Phoenix.

It’s the kind of moment Larson has built his career around: pressure, precision, and the pursuit of perfection under the lights of a track that’s come to define him.

Rob Tiongson is a sports writer and editor originally from the Boston area and resides in the Austin, Texas, area. Tiongson has covered motorsports series like NASCAR and INDYCAR since 2008 and NHRA since 2013. Most recently, Tiongson is covering professional basketball, mainly the WNBA, and women's college basketball. While writing and editing for The Podium Finish, Tiongson currently seeks for a long-term sportswriting and sports content creating career. Tiongson enjoys editing and writing articles and features, as well as photography. Moreover, he enjoys time with his family and friends, traveling, cooking, working out and being a fun uncle or "funcle" to his nephew, niece and cat. Tiongson is an alum of Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and St. Bonaventure University's renowned Jandoli School of Communication with a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism.

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