Kyle Larson and his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet team placed fifth in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville, doing enough to earn a Championship 4 spot at Phoenix. (Photo: Chloe Gunn | The Podium Finish)
RIDGEWAY, Va. — Kyle Larson secured his place in the Championship 4 last Sunday with a fifth-place finish in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. The result, combined with Christopher Bell’s seventh-place finish, ensures Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet team will compete for the NASCAR Cup Series title this coming Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.
Larson’s path to Phoenix was shaped by a season marked by both challenges and growth.
“Now it’s kinda been its own challenging year. But we’re still in contention to make the final four, and I feel very confident that if we do, we can compete better than we have in the Next Gen era for a championship,” Larson said prior to the race. “This year has been a lot of emotions, a lot of different things, losing Jon Edwards, you’re replacing the pit crew.”
“We’ve had some other crew members come and go, and the team looks very different than it did in April or even early May. So, it’s been a lot. This year is unlike any other so far,” Larson added, reflecting on the changes and uncertainties the team navigated en route to the playoffs.
Sunday at Martinsville, Larson’s focus was on maintaining track position relative to Bell, a primary rival in the points battle.
“I think it was a little less stressful because I recognized that we were better than Christopher (Bell). We were in front of him all day, so I knew if we had a good first stage that the math was going to be much easier. I just had to keep him in my sights at that point,” Larson said.
The No. 5 team executed cleanly, avoiding any major issues while Larson remained patient and strategic on restarts.
“The No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet team just did a great job. We didn’t have any hiccups. I definitely could have had better restarts, but like I said, I had out-scored Christopher, so I was just playing it a little easier; tuck in line and go from there. We had a good long-run car,” he said.
Clinching a Championship 4 berth was a moment of both personal pride and team acknowledgment for Larson.
Kyle Larson’s methodical, patient performance in last Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville was enough to clinch a Championship 4 spot at Phoenix. (Photo: Chloe Gunn | The Podium Finish)
“Happy to be in the Championship 4. Really proud of William (Byron). That was a hell of a drive. We have two Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets going for the championship and hopefully we can do it for Rick [Hendrick],” he said, emphasizing the dual-car effort that gives Hendrick Motorsports a strong chance at the title.
Looking ahead to Phoenix Raceway, Larson offered a cautious but optimistic outlook on the competition he will face.
“I don’t know… Denny [Hamlin] was good at Phoenix earlier this year. The No. 19 [Chase Briscoe] has gotten better as they’ve gotten comfortable with each other, so I’m sure he’ll be really strong,” Larson said. “He’s tough. He can figure out how to get to the front. William [Byron], after a performance like that tonight, he’s going to carry a lot of confidence into next weekend. We have confidence in ourselves. I feel like the No. 5 team was decent there earlier this season, and I think our short-track package has gotten way better.
“At Gateway [World Wide Technology Raceway], we were really strong. And then at New Hampshire, we were probably a little bit better than the Gibbs cars and maybe my teammates for a lot of the race. We’ll see. I’m just glad we have an opportunity to go out there and race for a championship.”
Larson emphasized that the team’s preparation and improvements throughout the season give them a strong foundation for the finale.
“I would say this is probably the best I’ve felt about what we’re bringing for the Championship 4 compared to 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’ve ever had in the Next Gen era. That motivates me and gets me excited,” he said.
Fittingly, the Martinsville result capped a season of ups and downs, with Larson and his team adapting to personnel changes and on-track challenges while maintaining consistency in the playoffs. By finishing ahead of Bell and keeping pace with other contenders, Larson ensured his team’s chance to compete for the title, a goal that has required both precision and patience.
Kyle Larson is very confident in his chances to win his second championship this Sunday at Phoenix after a fifth place finish last Sunday at Martinsville. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)
Larson’s fifth-place finish not only secured the Championship 4 spot but also demonstrated the importance of strategy and consistency in NASCAR’s playoff system. Each lap, pit stop and track position decision played a role in the final standings, and Larson’s ability to manage the race while monitoring key rivals showcased his experience and composure.
With Hendrick Motorsports now fielding two cars in the Championship 4, Larson said he feels both prepared and motivated heading into Phoenix. His focus remains on leveraging the improvements made throughout the season to maximize performance and contend for the title.
As the Cup Series heads to Phoenix, Larson and Hendrick Motorsports will look to convert their hard work into a championship victory. The team’s attention to detail, strong short-track program, and consistency throughout the playoffs position them as a formidable contender against a competitive field that includes William Byron, Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin.
Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville will be remembered as the race that secured Larson’s shot at a championship, emphasizing the fine margins and strategic execution required to reach NASCAR’s final stage. While fifth place may not carry the glory of a win, it accomplished what mattered most: earning the right to compete for the Cup Series crown.
The upcoming race at Phoenix will test Larson and his team’s preparation, strategy, and resilience. As one of two Hendrick Motorsports cars in the finale, Larson’s performance will be critical not only for his own championship hopes but also for the team’s overall success.
For Kyle Larson, Martinsville was a moment to combine patience, awareness, and execution, securing the Championship 4 berth and validating the team’s progress throughout a challenging season. As he looks to Phoenix, Larson carries both the confidence of preparation and the determination to seize the opportunity to win a Cup Series championship.
