Kyle Larson starts fourth in Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)
RIDGEWAY, Va. — Kyle Larson may be turning a corner at Martinsville Speedway, and recent results suggest his growing confidence in the track is well-placed.
If anything, he is a legitimate contender for Sunday’s Cook Out 400. In the past six races at the paperclip, Larson’s average finish is 5.5, third best among active NASCAR Cup Series racers. This includes a win in the 2023 spring race, four top fives and five top 10s.
Last year, Larson started from the pole position, led 86 laps and finished runner-up to William Byron in a 1-2-3 Hendrick Motorsports podium finish sweep. Starting ninth last fall, Larson finished third after leading 71 laps.
Prior to Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions, he considered his prospects at Martinsville, one of NASCAR’s original tracks, and his team’s performance since 2021.
“When I started at Hendrick Motorsports, the car was probably a little bit better than I was at Martinsville,” Larson said in a team press release. “But we’ve gotten better as a whole and I think it’s one of our best tracks now. We got a win there in 2023 and had solid runs and finishes there last year, so we’re looking forward to this weekend.”
Building on his impressive record at Martinsville, Larson showed promising signs in Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions. Larson qualified fourth, garnering the 10th pit stall in the winding pit road.
Historically, Martinsville has been one of the stronger tracks for Hendrick Motorsports. Still, it is a track where Larson acknowledges his challenges from the driver’s seat.
Kyle Larson hopes to collect his second grandfather clock with a win in Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)
“For me, it’s tough just to get into a rhythm of slowing down, reaccelerating and doing it lap after lap, and trying to keep up with the changing conditions and tires and track surface,” Larson said to Claire B. Lang. Then you’re doing it right on top of the guy in front of you and guys pressuring you. It’s hard. Other tracks come a little easier, but this one’s a tough one.”
Then again, Larson loves a good challenge as he demonstrated last weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He overcame a late race spin to win the Truck Series’ Baptist Health 200 and overcame a somewhat difficult deficit to win last Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 400.
Like top athletes, Larson knows success is not solely attributed on his skills and talents. He has a strong team in crew chief Cliff Daniels and his over-the-wall pit crew who deliver pit stops in the 9-second range.
“Our car setup is decent here. It’s just a good track for us and hopefully, we can continue to be good,” Larson said. “I just feel like you try and do a good job every week and hopefully with that, wins come. We have a pretty good process with the 5 team. Just continue working hard every week, and hopefully, you continue to get better.”
Kyle Larson looks to score Hendrick Motorsports’ 30th win at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)
Last Sunday’s win at Homestead does not mean that Larson and his team can be complacent and rest on their glories. Instead, it means going after more victories and securing consistent, frontrunner finishes to battle for his second Cup championship.
As for this year’s competition, it is not so clear cut on who the current title contenders are but he knows the usual suspects in Joe Gibbs Racing and his teammates at Hendrick Motorsports cannot be dismissed.
“I think there’s good guys but it’s still a little early,” Larson observed. “The points are still really tight. As it stretches out a little bit, you’ll get a better idea. You know who your fast guys are. If they have a couple of a bad races in a row, it becomes tougher for them. But it’s your normal, good teams.”
Sunday’s race at Martinsville will be crucial in solidifying Larson and his No. 5 team not only as a short-track contender but as a legitimate championship threat as the 2025 season progresses.
