Kyle Larson Chases First Talladega Win in 400th Start

Momentum has been firmly on Larson’s side in 2025. He leads all drivers with 1,100 laps led, marking his third straight season over 1,000 laps and his fourth in five seasons with Hendrick Motorsports. His average finish on superspeedways among playoff drivers sits at 9.6, and he has completed every lap at such tracks this season. Earlier this year at Talladega, he won stage one, finished second in stage two, and came in second in the race, collecting a series-high 54 points. Across five drafting races in 2025, Larson has scored 177 points, the most among playoff drivers.

The grind of the Cup Series, however, is undeniable. With just one break since Easter, the long weeks have tested both drivers and crews.

“Yeah, I mean, I think still being in the playoffs and competing for a championship distracts you from the grind in a way or that it has been as long as it has been since we’ve had a break,” Larson said during his press conference on Saturday. “I think the guys who didn’t make the playoffs or who got knocked out in a round — yeah, they’re probably just counting down the days until the season is over. But for us, we’re still in it, so I haven’t really felt like I want the year to be over.”

The physical demands may weigh heaviest on the mechanics, he said.

“But yeah, it’s definitely a long year… it always is. I mean, even if they threw in one more off weekend, it’s still a lot,” Larson said. “But yeah, I mean it kind of is what it is. It’s probably tougher on the crew and the mechanics than it is for us drivers because they live it every single day of the week and work long hours, especially this time of year. But for the driver, sure, I would love another break or more, but it’s probably tougher on the mechanics.”

Consistency has been Larson’s calling card. He has avoided the crashes that often define superspeedway races.

“I’ve finally gotten lucky (laughs)… I don’t know,” Larson said. “I mean honestly, like that’s me being a little funny, but our average running position probably during the race is no different, I would assume. We’re just not getting caught up in the crashes at the end of them, for whatever reason, so I hope that’s the case again tomorrow.”

The Next Gen era has seen him evolve into a top contender at tracks that once were unpredictable for him.

“In the past, it’s easy look on paper and be like Kyle Larson is the worst ever on superspeedways,” he said. “But if you really watch the race, we’ve been a top contender in the Next Gen era, especially. So yeah, hopefully we can just stay lucky.”

This weekend offers a milestone opportunity.

“Yeah, I think I read that earlier this week. It’d be pretty neat,” Larson said. “I would have liked it go to like Bristol or something for my 400 start (laughs), but it would be extra special to get my first win on a superspeedway in my 400 career start. That would be pretty awesome. We’ll give it our best effort tomorrow and hopefully join that list of Hall of Famers. That would be incredible.”

Preparation extends beyond the visible laps. Larson breaks down the intricate teamwork required for a strong showing at Talladega.

“Yeah, I mean, I don’t know. I wouldn’t say it’s like any bit of different prep than a normal weekend,” Larson said. “We have our pre-weekend meeting, as always, and kind of look at different scenarios.”

Leading into green flag cycles, execution and track position matter more than most fans see.

Kyle Larson’s strong performances at Talladega are starting to pay off with solid results. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)

“I do think something that the good guys do good here, and I would consider myself one of them, is the part that you guys don’t really see — leading into the green flag cycle of fuel saving, getting established with good track position while also saving fuel, and then executing,” Larson said. “It takes more than just a driver, but your team executing that green flag cycle really well; getting to the yellow line as quick as you can and getting organized as we do with Team Chevy pretty well.”

Pit stops are another area where Larson’s team aims for perfection.

“And then getting to your pit sign good and your fueler engaging good,” he said. “Cliff (Daniels, crew chief) on the stopwatch, nailing all that. Just executing that whole cycle is important.”

The payoff is being in contention at key stages.

“I think that’s something that we on the No. 5 team, as well as the other key partners in Chevy, do well,” Larson said. “And that’s why I think we are in contention typically at the ends of the stages and at the end of the race. You know, sometimes it works out where you finish and sometimes it doesn’t, but I think that’s something that we’ve worked really hard on as a group the past three or four years. I think we’re one of the best, if not the best, at doing that.”

Even with the pursuit of a second Cup championship, Larson’s chase for his first superspeedway win has grown more meaningful over time.

“Yeah, I don’t know,” Larson said. “I think for a long time, like at least early to the mid-portions my career, I always had a thought in my head like anybody can win on a superspeedway, so it’s not going to feel that special when I finally do win.

“But now, it’s gone so long and I haven’t even had many top-10s or top-fives that hopefully if I ever do win, I don’t know what the feelings going to be like, but I would assume that it’s going to feel really big,” he said. “And I will take it anywhere… I would take it here (at Talladega). I’ll take it at the DAYTONA 500 or Atlanta… like I don’t even care at this point, I just would love to get a win.”

The atmosphere at Talladega adds its own layer of energy.

“I mean, I don’t find myself on the boulevard much anymore, but I would say just the atmosphere here as the sun goes down is really, really awesome,” Larson said. “I remember back when we had like the three-day weekends — I’m sure they still do it, but I don’t know if many drivers participate in it as much anymore, but like they had a parade. I don’t know if they still do it on the boulevard, that was always fun being a part of that and throwing beads at fans and then seeing what kind of crazy event they have at the end of the airstrip there.”

Fans have remained a focal point for Larson’s experience.

“And then yeah, all you had to do is run one lap the next day, so you go out pretty big Friday night,” he said. “So that was always fun to look forward to that. And then Sunday, the crowd is always really big and really into it. You feel it during pre-race. You feel it in the midway and all that. I don’t love the racing here, but I do enjoy coming here because the atmosphere is always great.”

Stage points are a strategic consideration, but Larson remains focused on execution.

“Well, I don’t know. We haven’t talked about those sorts of scenarios,” he said. “I would assume we’re just going normal and trying to execute the green flags cycles, like I mentioned, and get stage points.”

Margins can evaporate quickly at Talladega.

“I think maybe Denny Hamlin would be the only one that wouldn’t be doing that, but I think the seven of us are probably all going to try and get stage points because, as you mentioned, I’m plus 35, but you know if somebody below the cutline or even just anybody behind me goes and wins both stages, that’s 20 points to my zero and that’s a lot.”

Risk and reward are inseparable on the superspeedway.

“But yeah, I mean there’s a risk that comes with it,” Larson said. “I don’t know… hopefully you’ve executed well enough that you are in the front of that group. If not, then yeah, I mean maybe you just got away that risk, but it’s hard to kind of pick your way to the front if you’re outside the top-10 anyways.”

The goal is to maximize points while staying in contention for the win.

“So yeah, we’ll see,” he said. “Hopefully we just execute good and we can maximize our day like we have been on the speedways.”

Larson accepts the unpredictability inherent to Talladega.

Kyle Larson may not be Johnny Carson’s Carnac, but he hopes to will his recent luck at Talladega with a win in Sunday’s YellaWood 500. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)

“I mean, I don’t have a crystal ball, so I don’t know where I’m going to be running at the end of the stages or at the end of the race,” he said. “But yeah, I mean you’re just kind of making decisions in the moment. The difficult part about speedway racing is that you never know what the right decision or wrong decision is until after you make it. You just don’t know.”

Even in uncertainty, Larson knows safety is rarely the best play.

“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “I don’t think ever playing it safe is ever the right call in the Cup Series. At least for me here, you’ve got to assume a guy below the cutline or even below you is going to win, so then it’s going to bring you closer to the cutline. So no, I think you need to go and try to score as many points as you can. And obviously get a win would lock you in. So yeah, I would say we’re not approaching this race any differently than we would in the spring race here. We’re trying to score as many points we can and get a win, if possible.”

This will be Larson’s defining superspeedway opportunity, combining 400 starts, a career milestone, and the pursuit of his first Talladega win.

All gas, nothing protected, and a field of 39 other drivers standing between him and Talladega’s Victory Lane.