Kyle Larson hopes to return to his winning ways in the final eight regular season NASCAR Cup Series races. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
With the NASCAR Cup Series crossing the halfway point of the season, Kyle Larson has plenty to be optimistic about — even if the last few races haven’t fully reflected his usual dominant form.
The 2021 Cup Series champion and driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet sits third in the regular season standings, yet holds the top spot in the Playoff grid thanks to three victories — at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway — along with nine top-five finishes, 12 top 10s and a pole.
Larson, speaking remotely from Hampton, Georgia, during the EchoPark Speedway race weekend, shared his thoughts about the trajectory of his season, recent challenges, and how his team has kept its edge during a summer stretch of tough tracks.
“I think there’s a lot of strengths within our team,” Larson said. “I would say up until the last four weeks, our car speed was really good, and we were executing really well. And then, I feel like here the last handful [of] weeks, our speed [has] maybe not [been] as dominant as we’ve been, but I feel like we’re executing even better in maximizing our days, which is really important in this sport at this level.”
Indeed, Larson’s recent results have leaned more on savvy than sheer speed. Since a 37th-place finish at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, he’s rallied with a string of top 10s despite starting deeper in the field or lacking his usual pace.
Kyle Larson speeds his way around Phoenix Raceway. (Photo: Myk Crawford)
“We’ve gotten, aside from Mexico, the last four weeks — we’ve got three top tens, and we’ve had to fight really hard throughout those races to get that,” he said. “So, I think having runs like that throughout the middle of the season or regular season, it really prepares you for the Playoffs.”
While Larson and his No. 5 team, led by crew chief Cliff Daniels, are focused on the long game, they’re also aware that they haven’t dominated recent intermediate or superspeedway races the way they have in the past.
“I think just looking back, it’s just not the best kinda group of racetracks for us here that we’ve been going to the last few weeks,” Larson said, referencing tracks like Nashville, Michigan and Pocono. “I know we’ve finished well at them in years past, but we still… it’s kind of been the same story the last few years. We’re just not fast enough to lead laps and win stages and dominate races at [those tracks].
“So it’s kinda been the same thing the last few years, but hopefully we’ve learned something on our cars of why maybe we’ve been off a little bit, and we can take that step forward and be better at even the places that we’ve already been really good at.”
Larson’s straightforward assessment reflects the reality of racing at high-speed pack tracks like EchoPark: survival often leads to opportunity. But it also reveals a confidence in his team’s preparation and adaptability. In an eventful race at EchoPark, Larson, despite starting 11th, dodged certain catastrophe and survived the mayhem with a 17th place result.
Kyle Larson and Cliff Daniels confer before the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)
That steady performance has been bolstered by the continued leadership of Daniels, who has been Larson’s crew chief since 2021. Over the past five seasons, the pair have formed one of the most productive driver-crew chief duos in the garage.
“I just think with the more time we’ve spent with each other and as a group, we’ve just gotten even better,” Larson said. “And I think Cliff has really evolved as a leader and how he leads the team, and I think he’s done a phenomenal job with that.”
While the on-track communication remains essential, Larson emphasized that the off-track chemistry has also improved with time.
“I think we’ve learned each other and how to kinda communicate with each other even better, on and off the racetrack, and I think that only makes you stronger,” he said. “So, yeah, we — as a group with the 5 team — have been doing a great job. We’ve had a lot of personnel kinda change this year, so it’s been difficult at times, but I feel like we’ll be even better off once we get to the Playoffs.”
That unity could prove vital as the Cup Series prepares for a high-stakes summer run, culminating in the regular season finale at Daytona before the 10-race Playoff begins at Darlington Raceway on Labor Day weekend.
Kyle Larson celebrates his Food City 500 win at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, Apr. 13, 2025. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finsih)
Larson’s blend of confidence, experience, and consistency keeps him among the top contenders — even on days when the car isn’t at its best. His three victories this season have come on very different tracks, reinforcing his versatility.
And while Larson is laser-focused on the immediate goal, his long-term perspective is shaped by his growing family and the ever-evolving balance between racing and life outside the car.
He acknowledges the toll the road takes, especially being away from his kids, but understands it comes with the territory.
“I miss them,” he said. “I wish I could be around a lot more, but it’s tough with this lifestyle.”
Still, it’s clear that Larson embraces the full scope of his career: the relentless schedule, the high-speed battles, attending his first WNBA game and the quiet moments that follow.
And with the Playoffs looming, Larson appears poised for another championship-caliber run — built not only on raw speed, but resilience, chemistry and the quiet confidence of a driver who’s seen it all, and is ready for more.
