Following the recent NASCAR Cup Series event in Mexico, Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Cliff Daniels revealed that Kyle Larson’s crash at Darlington continues to affect the team’s mindset and race decisions. Daniels admitted to experiencing lingering stress from that incident, which influenced how they approached challenges during the Mexico race.
During the Darlington event, Larson’s car endured significant front-end damage. While there were no suspension issues, repairing the bodywork was intricate and time-intensive, forcing the team through a difficult recovery. This experience set a precedent for the team’s decision-making in Mexico, where Larson’s car suffered mostly suspension damage rather than cosmetic harm. Reflecting on this, Daniels explained the cautious timing of a critical decision, stating,
“So we waited until three laps after that point, just because, to be honest, I still have a little PTSD from Darlington where ultimately we did affect the outcome of the race completely inadvertently.” —Cliff Daniels, Hendrick Motorsports crew chief
In the Mexico race, Larson found himself many laps behind the leaders. Daniels chose to bring the car into the garage for repairs, but Larson was reluctant to end his race prematurely. Larson expressed his intent,
“Hey man, are we done? I don’t really want to DNF. I just want to be able to keep running.” —Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports driver
Larson further elaborated in a post-race interview, describing his mindset as he faced the setback. He said,
“Up to that point, we had ran some laps and I was kind of just in traffic, so I didn’t get a chance to go for the fast lap… Nobody DNFs more than me, so I didn’t want to add another one.” —Kyle Larson
With Larson’s determination in mind, the Hendrick Motorsports crew decided to keep the car running for the remainder of the race. They treated the situation as a live practice session, focusing on pit stop routines, adjusting air pressures, and testing various settings. Although they had no opportunity to improve their position, this approach allowed them to refine their operation under race conditions, hoping these lessons would benefit them in upcoming playoff competitions.
This adaptable strategy stemmed directly from the Darlington experience, where intense and complicated repairs forced the team to improve communication and assign roles more efficiently under pressure. At Darlington, the team had to repair major structural damage, including replacing the front bumper and reconstructing the nose of Larson’s car. In contrast, the Mexico race posed the challenge of suspension damage with less severe bodywork implications.
Insights from Kyle Larson on His Career So Far
Before the Viva Mexico 250, Larson shared reflections on his NASCAR journey during an Amazon Prime interview. While he’s compiled an impressive record, Larson remains humble and cautious about being regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
The 32-year-old driver began his Cup Series career in 2013 with Phoenix Racing and joined Chip Ganassi Racing full-time in 2014. His transition to Hendrick Motorsports in 2021 proved fruitful, with Larson securing the championship in his debut season for the team.</p>
Currently, Larson has accumulated 32 wins in 382 Cup Series starts, with 128 top-five finishes, 193 top-ten finishes, and 22 pole positions. His willingness to take on demanding challenges is demonstrated by attempting the double—competing in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day—twice, underscoring his versatility and endurance.
Despite these accomplishments, Larson remains grounded. In the interview, he stated,
“Although the public thinks that I think that, I don’t necessarily think that I’m the greatest in the world… I’ve got a lot of racing left to do, and I hope I can accomplish a lot more to really feel like I’m deserving of that credit.” —Kyle Larson
He acknowledged that the recognition motivates him to continue improving and strive to meet expectations. As of this season, Larson holds second place in the Cup Series standings with 537 points. His performance includes three wins, 11 top-ten finishes, nine top-five placements, and one pole position in 16 starts. Larson has led 851 laps, maintaining an average starting position of 11.5, consistently demonstrating competitive strength.