Kyle Larson began the NASCAR season with impressive momentum, amassing three wins and eight top-five finishes within the first twelve races, while leading over 700 laps. Early in the year, Larson held the points lead comfortably, driving the No. 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports. However, as the season progressed, he experienced a significant downturn, struggling in the latter half of the regular season.
Despite this slump, Larson’s early achievements provided a cushion that kept his championship hopes alive. When asked about whether his initial success served as a safety net during his difficult stretch, Larson offered a clear perspective on his mindset and approach.
Details on Larson’s Mid-Season Performance Dip and Recent Improvement
The downturn began following unsuccessful attempts at the “Double,” where Larson crashed out of the Indianapolis 500 and later recorded a DNF at the Coca-Cola 600. Over the next seven races, his results declined sharply, with only one top-five finish and leading merely three laps combined. This sequence marked a challenging period after his promising start.
Nevertheless, Larson ended that rough patch by finishing fourth at the Dover International Speedway race. These inconsistent weekends have not thwarted his progress, as he remains comfortably positioned in the playoff standings. He currently sits third in points, just 38 behind the leader Chase Elliott and remains a strong contender for the regular-season championship.
Larson’s Philosophy on Racing and Playoff Strategy
Larson attributes his team’s success less to locking in early playoff spots and more to consistently competing to win each race. Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, he emphasized their approach:
“Yeah, I don’t know. I feel like for our team, the whole locking yourself into the playoffs early in the year is not something we think about or worry about. When we have won races in the past, it’s not like, oh, we’ve got this big weight off our shoulders and now we can call races differently or anything like that. I think every team, but especially ours, we’re racing to win every week, and it’s no different.” —Kyle Larson, NASCAR driver
Since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, Larson has been part of a dominant No. 5 team that routinely secures multiple wins each year. Their focus remains on race victories and consistent performance rather than simply qualifying for the playoffs. This mindset has contributed to their impressive tally of 26 wins in just five seasons.
“Like I said, our team expects to be in the playoffs. We typically perform at a high level, but yeah, the last couple of months have been a bit of a struggle, so maybe those wins were good, I guess. I don’t know,”
Larson added.
Looking Ahead to the Brickyard 400 and Larson’s Ambitions
Now that Larson has regained his form, he sets his sights on a back-to-back victory at the prestigious Brickyard 400. A repeat win at this event would place him alongside legendary drivers such as Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Jarrett, who have all claimed multiple victories at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Brickyard 400 challenges even the best drivers, making Larson’s goal a significant task. He recently finished fourth at the Pennzoil 250 on the same track, demonstrating resilience and consistency despite involvement in an earlier wreck.
Kyle Larson kisses the bricks as the champion of the #Brickyard400
Rick Hendrick powered through recent knee surgery to kiss the bricks too, getting down and then up with assistance. Crowd loved it. pic.twitter.com/o7vF5Ygiqx
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92)
Larson’s ability to bounce back and perform well on the Indy track underscores his determination as the NASCAR season intensifies. With the playoffs underway, his experience and drive make him a strong contender to secure more victories and fight for the championship.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Kyle Larson better than Verstappen?
A. Larson might not defeat Verstappen in Formula 1, but he’s more adaptable than anyone else globally. Bianchi suggests Larson is more versatile because he excels in many different kinds of racing vehicles.
Q. What caused Kyle Larson to crash?
A. FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass shared Kyle Larson’s statement about the crash the day after it happened. Larson explained that the crash occurred because the axle broke.
Q. Asked about Larson’s claim on Thursday, he had just two coy words: Asked Max Verstappen for his response to Kyle Larson’s comments about being a better all-round driver – Max just smiled and said: \x26quot;That’s fine. Everyone thinks their own way, right?\x26quot; With a quick detour to another sport, let me put it this way.
A. What was Max Verstappen’s reaction to Kyle Larson?