Kyle Larson focuses on scoring his third win at Michigan in Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400. (Photo: Rusty Jones | Nigel Kinrade Photography)
BROOKLYN, Mich. — Kyle Larson is no stranger to Michigan International Speedway’s Victory Lane. As he prepares to roll off fifth in Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400, the Hendrick Motorsports driver has his sights set on earning a fourth career win at the two-mile oval — and third in the track’s summer classic.
Larson, who pilots the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, enters the weekend with a strong résumé at Michigan. In 17 NASCAR Cup Series starts at the track, he has scored three victories — in August 2016, June 2017 and August 2017 — all during a stretch when he became one of the sport’s premier drivers on high-speed intermediate tracks. He’s also tallied seven top-five and nine top-10 finishes at Michigan, leading a total of 263 laps along the way.
“I think just that maybe it’s so big and long, you can draft and stuff like that,” Larson said. “So restarts, for the first few laps are a bit chaotic, but that’s really every track we go to. So it’s just I think the grip here is really high, but when you get, like, an awkward spot, you can lose your grip really quick. So, yeah, I think that’s why you see spins and racks and accidents happening.”
Since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, Larson has rarely been off the pace in Brooklyn. Though Chevrolet has gone winless at the track since Larson’s last victory in 2017, he believes the speed is still there — especially with how strong his team has been in recent years.
“I think it’s been since even I won in ’17 that a Chevy has won here,” he observed. “It’s just kinda surprising because I don’t feel like it’s a track that we struggle at by any means. Every time I’ve been here in a Hendrick car, we’ve been one of the fastest and up front as well as my teammates. We’ll see how the race plays out. But, it’s not a track like Nashville where we struggle. So we’re always confident when we come here.”
That confidence is backed up by his 2025 campaign to date. Through the first 15 races of the season, Larson has picked up three wins — at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, and Kansas Speedway — along with eight top-five and ten top-10 finishes. He’s also led over 850 laps and sits second in the championship standings behind teammate William Byron.
Still, even for a driver with a proven track record, adapting to each weekend’s unique challenges remains a critical part of Larson’s approach.
Kyle Larson prepares for his practice session ahead of Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan. (Photo: Aspen Marcheschi | The Podium Finish)
“Well, I think you just have to analyze quickly on the weekend or the race and reset your goals,” Larson said. “Typically, when I’m out on the track, it’s like, ‘Alright. What am I gonna do to win?’ Where last week, I recognized early on, even in practice, but especially in the race, like, alright. This is gonna be a super challenging race.
“Let’s just make the most out of it and set new goals and try to get close to that. A top 10 was gonna be a great day, and we did that. So, yeah, just gotta analyze and alter goals.”
Michigan’s layout demands a fine balance between raw speed, aerodynamic awareness and tire management. With wide racing grooves and long straightaways, drivers often draft tightly in packs — especially on restarts. For Larson, that means making smart moves with help from longtime crew chief Cliff Daniels atop the pit box.
“I think it’s important everywhere to have a good balanced race car with speed and grip and all that. So, hopefully, we have that, and we can be good to go for the race,” he said.
“I think with the long straightaways and stuff here inside drafting and the runs happen quickly, and they’re really big,” Larson added. “And you gotta be aggressive with them, but you also gotta be smart and calculated with it and not get stuck inside of somebody for too long and things like that.”
Larson and Daniels have proven to be one of the most consistent driver-crew chief pairings in the garage, winning a championship together in 2021 and remaining weekly contenders since. Their synergy and adaptability have helped them thrive even when faced with shifting conditions or mid-race adversity.
Kyle Larson hopes his fifth place starting position translates to another Michigan win for his No. 5 Chevrolet. (Photo: Rusty Jones | Nigel Kinrade Photography)
While much of Larson’s focus this week is on Michigan, he also took part in promotional work south of the border ahead of next weekend’s inaugural Mexico City Cup Series race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Though he’s not typically active online, he spoke positively about his time in the capital city.
“I don’t really have a great answer for you because I don’t know,” Larson said to The Podium Finish’s Jasmine Sharpe in a clip posted by Frontstretch. “I’m not really on the Internet a whole lot to see the promotion side of it, but I had a lot of fun going down to Mexico last week and just checking the city out and seeing kind of the energy that’s there with the media members and stuff.
“I hadn’t got to hang out with any fans or anything yet, but, yeah, it should be a good event.”
Before heading south, however, Larson has unfinished business in Michigan. A win Sunday would mark his fourth at the track — and second in the FireKeepers Casino 400 — strengthening his championship credentials and Chevrolet’s resurgence at one of the manufacturer’s most important venues.
The FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan kicks off on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET and airs live on Amazon Prime.
Editor’s Notes
Jasmine Sharpe contributed to this article directly onsite from Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.
