Not because the 2025 spring race at Kansas Speedway had Kyle Larson so completely whipped the NASCAR Cup Sequence subject as he did at Kansas on Sunday afternoon.
Larson, the defending Cup Sequence champion who broke a 51-race winless drought at Gateway on Sept. 13, dominantly gained the Hollywood On line casino 400, sweeping the levels and main 235 of 267 laps en path to a 76-point day that pushed his factors lead over Denny Hamlin to 26 factors with six races left within the 2026 season.
Chase Briscoe was the one driver who might problem Larson, doing so within the closing laps of Sunday’s race, however when the mud settled, Larson had his second win in three races, and a dominant one at that.
Any rumors of Larson’s demise or that of his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports staff have been significantly exaggerated.
“I stated it form of in Gateway, I felt like we have been shut,” Larson stated. “I didn’t really feel prefer it was 51 races [going winless] after which — yeah, simply it looks like we have been simply constructing and able to form of capitalize if we obtained to a second like this the place our automobile and the whole lot form of got here collectively.
So simply happy with all people for working so arduous for thus lengthy now, after which happy with simply the execution that they’ve put in right here these first 4 races. We simply obtained to attempt to stick with it.”
Larson was nonetheless constant all through the common season however has discovered one other gear within the Chase. He was in rivalry to win the Southern 500 and has a median end of two.25 by way of the primary 4 races of the postseason.
“No one needs to undergo the wrestle, however the wrestle might be so constructive, if you happen to let or not it’s, if you happen to lean in the precise methods,” stated Cliff Daniels, Larson’s crew chief. “We’ve an incredible firm with lots of nice individuals on the store ground which are within the groups, engine store, automobile store, management.
“The game goes in cycles. Any individual informed me a very long time in the past, when the game goes in cycles, once you’re on high, you’ve obtained to take one of the best of it; and once you’re not, you’ve obtained to be affected person and be prepared when it’s your flip.”
Kyle Larson, No. 5 staff peaking on the proper time
Larson and the No. 5 staff have definitely capitalized on their enchancment, and so they might not be accomplished but. Three of the ultimate six Chase races are at 1.5-mile tracks, together with the season finale at Homestead, the place Larson has been wonderful all through his profession.
“I really feel like we’ve proven an honest quantity of persistence,” Daniels stated. “On the similar time, we’ve been affected person, simply from the emotional degree of not letting the wrestle actually hold us down. We’ve been passionate within the pursuit, passionate in placing within the work that now, truthfully, for my part, I nonetheless don’t assume as an organization we’ve peaked but. I don’t assume as a staff we’ve peaked but. There’s nonetheless lots of racing left and lots of work to do.”
Larson stated that he would not imagine the title is his to lose, however he and his staff have been on this place earlier than and are available out with the championship. If the velocity they confirmed on Sunday is exhibited over the subsequent six weeks, the opposite 15 title hopefuls may very well be in bother.
“I believe we’re peaking at level,” Larson stated. “I wish to assume that we nonetheless have room to go to be even higher.”
Quotes supplied by NASCAR Media.
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