RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Kyle Larson has admitted Hendrick Motorsports may not look like a championship favourite heading into the final stretch of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Larson has gone more than a year without a win, while Toyota has enjoyed a stronger campaign. Three of Hendrick’s four drivers, including Larson, have still secured a place in The Chase.
Larson knows the team has plenty to improve before the championship fight begins. However, he also believes Hendrick’s experience gives them reason to remain confident.
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Kyle Larson believes Hendrick Motorsports can still turn season around
Speaking to journalist Tim Moore ahead of the Cook Out 400 at Richmond, Larson acknowledged the doubts surrounding Hendrick.
‘None of us might seem confident as far as winning a championship, but there is still that confidence in there because you’re racing for Hendrick Motorsports, and you know at any point we can turn it around,’ Larson said.
The defending Cup Series champion also pointed towards last season as evidence that the fastest car does not always win the title.
Joe Gibbs Racing appeared stronger during much of the 2025 campaign, with Denny Hamlin leading the regular season in wins. Larson and Hendrick, however, produced when it mattered most.
The No. 5 team used a two-tyre strategy during the championship finale at Phoenix, while Hamlin’s late four-tyre stop dropped him behind Larson. Larson finished third and secured his second Cup Series title.
This season presents a tougher challenge.
Larson currently sits 10th in the standings and remains winless, while the new format has increased the value of race victories to 55 points.
Chase Elliott is the only Hendrick driver to have won this season and sits seventh in the standings. Five of the six drivers above him are driving Toyotas.
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Former driver Kevin Harvick has also pointed towards Chevrolet’s struggles, particularly with aerodynamic balance.
‘If you get that aero balance off and you can’t get the front end to work, then it’s just such a hard balance to figure out in order to get the car to where it needs to go,’ Harvick said on his Happy Hour podcast.
Larson’s message is simple. Hendrick may not have the strongest package right now, but the organisation has found ways to peak when the championship is on the line.
That history is why Larson is refusing to write off his chances just yet.
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