One Year Milestone: Kyle Larson’s Uncharacteristic Win Drought in NASCAR Cup Series

Kansas City, KS – May 11, 2025 – A full calendar year has elapsed since Kyle Larson last piloted his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to a victory in the NASCAR Cup Series, a streak that now stands at 36 races. His most recent triumph, a dominant performance at Kansas Speedway on May 11, 2025, now serves as a stark marker in what has been an uncharacteristically challenging stretch for the 2021 Cup Series champion. While Larson currently occupies eighth place in the championship standings, the team acknowledges the imperative to elevate their performance and contend for the championship, especially given the recent championship secured under a different points format.

The Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 team, a powerhouse in recent seasons, is actively addressing a perceived dip in their usual high standards. The transition to a new Chevrolet body style for the 2025 season, a significant undertaking for all Chevrolet teams, appears to be a contributing factor, although not solely responsible for Larson’s winless streak.

Larson himself, when pressed on the significance of the 36-race drought, conveyed a perspective that balances awareness with a focus on the present. "I mean, I think you guys pay attention to it way more than I pay attention to it," Larson stated during a press conference over the weekend at Watkins Glen International. "But yeah, obviously I would have loved to have won to this point, but we just haven’t been good enough. I feel like at times, we’re really close to getting a win. And then at other times, I feel like we’re far from getting a win. It just shows how tough this series is."

He further elaborated on the team’s internal efforts, stating, "But yeah, I don’t know. We’re working really hard. I say the same thing every time you guys ask… it’s not like we’re not trying to win. We’re just kind of searching of how to be better and sometimes maybe search too much and get off track a little bit." This introspection highlights the nuanced challenges of maintaining peak performance in a highly competitive sport, where even minor adjustments can have significant ripple effects.

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Crew Chief Cliff Daniels echoed Larson’s sentiment, emphasizing the importance of emotional resilience during this period. "We’re very aware that we haven’t won on a Sunday," Daniels remarked last month at Bristol Motor Speedway. "And yes, the championship is one thing, but we haven’t taken the checkered flag in probably a calendar year by now. With our evolution of the team and probably being a little bit more seasoned in how we handle some of these things, I think, more than ever, now we know that we can’t get emotional, get sad." This strategic approach underscores the team’s long-term perspective and their commitment to navigating the current challenges without compromising their mental fortitude.

The Hendrick Motorsports organization, a perennial frontrunner, is collectively navigating the complexities of the new Chevrolet platform. While the No. 5 team seeks to recapture their winning form, a notable positive for the team has been the exceptional start to the season by their teammates in the No. 9 car, driven by Chase Elliott. Elliott and his No. 9 team have enjoyed their most successful start to a season in their tenure together, providing a benchmark for performance within the organization.

"But you know, Chase (Elliott) has had a good start to the year, but the rest of us have been kind of off, so we’re still trying to work through it," Larson acknowledged, drawing a distinction between his team’s performance and that of their teammates. "We’re just going to keep fighting. We’ve made this sport, the Cup Series, look easy at times, and I never thought it was, so I’m glad that we can show you that it’s not easy." This statement serves as a reminder of the inherent difficulty of competing at the highest level of NASCAR, where consistency and execution are paramount.

The NASCAR Cup Series season is characterized by its demanding schedule and the constant evolution of car technology and team strategies. Larson’s 2021 championship season was marked by an impressive seven wins, including a dominant playoff run that culminated in victory at Phoenix Raceway. His 2022 season saw him secure three victories, further solidifying his status as one of the sport’s premier drivers. However, the 2023 season, while yielding a championship, did not include a single checkered flag in the traditional sense, with his victory coming in the season finale under the championship format. This year, the winless streak has extended beyond the close of the previous season, extending into the current campaign.

The current NASCAR Cup Series season has seen a highly competitive landscape, with multiple drivers and teams vying for wins. The introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022 has continued to level the playing field, leading to a more diverse group of winners and increased parity among the field. For a driver of Larson’s caliber, accustomed to being in victory lane with regularity, this period presents a unique test of patience and perseverance.

Looking ahead, the schedule for the remainder of the regular season includes a mix of track types, from short tracks to superspeedways and road courses. Each venue presents its own set of challenges and opportunities for teams to find their stride. Kansas Speedway, the site of Larson’s last win, will host another event later in the season, potentially offering a chance to break the streak at a track where he has historically performed well.

The championship format in the NASCAR Cup Series rewards consistency and success in the playoff rounds. While winning races is the primary objective for securing a playoff berth and gaining valuable championship points, teams can still remain competitive through strong top-five and top-ten finishes. Larson’s current eighth-place standing indicates that the No. 5 team is accumulating points, but the ultimate goal remains to qualify for the playoffs with race wins.

The pursuit of performance improvement is a continuous process in motorsports. The Hendrick Motorsports organization, with its rich history of success, possesses the resources and expertise to overcome challenges. The coming weeks and months will be crucial for Larson and the No. 5 team as they aim to regain their championship-winning form and add to their impressive career win totals. The NASCAR Cup Series season is long, and the narrative of a driver like Kyle Larson is far from written, with the potential for a turnaround always present on any given Sunday.

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