Kevin Harvick, a veteran with years of experience in NASCAR’s top ranks, could not help but reflect on the incredible dominance once displayed by Jimmie Johnson at Dover, especially after witnessing Kyle Larson’s commanding performance last Sunday at Kansas Speedway. As the NASCAR season heats up in 2025, Harvick’s memories of Johnson ruling the Monster Mile in 2013, leading 243 laps to clinch his fifth win that year, resurfaced, drawing clear parallels between Johnson’s legacy and Larson’s relentless pace at Kansas. Both moments marked critical junctures in the championship battles of their respective eras, leaving fans and competitors in awe of what ultimate control behind the wheel really looks like.
At Kansas Speedway, Kyle Larson didn’t just win; he dominated the field in ways not seen often since the days when Jimmie Johnson reigned supreme. Starting from pole position and sweeping all stages, Larson led 221 out of 267 laps and secured his third win of the season – an achievement that brought his career win tally to 32, tying him with NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett. This victory also secured his spot among an elite group of drivers with over 10,000 career laps led, a list that includes only Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin among active competitors. It was a performance reminiscent of the relentless authority once exhibited by Jimmie Johnson, a fact not lost on Harvick or the broader NASCAR community.
The parallels became a major talking point on Harvick’s podcast, where co-host Mamba Smith shared his admiration for Larson’s performance by explicitly invoking memories of Jimmie Johnson’s most dominant years.
“When he wins, he’s the only guy that we’ve seen really have dominating performances in the last few years, like old school, the way Jimmie Johnson used to do. And you’re just like, golly, like ain’t no one gonna stop this guy unless it’s… He stops himself.”
Smith’s endorsement not only highlighted Larson’s technical skill, but also captured the widespread respect for Jimmie Johnson’s era of dominance at Dover, a track that proved pivotal during the 2013 championship run.
Rewinding to that landmark 2013 season, Jimmie Johnson’s mastery at Dover helped him seize control of the championship points lead, which was crucial in the last year before NASCAR introduced the high-stakes elimination playoff format. Johnson’s fifth season win at Dover, coming after he led 243 laps, set the tone for the rest of the year, allowing him to clinch his sixth title and cement his reputation as one of NASCAR’s greatest. In those high-pressure weeks, Johnson’s cool demeanor complemented his on-track prowess, creating a blueprint for championship racing that many, including Kevin Harvick, have since tried to emulate.
Harvick, who mounted a valiant challenge of his own in 2013, remembers that season vividly. After Johnson’s triumph at Dover, Harvick answered with wins at Kansas and Phoenix, but it was not enough to dislodge the seemingly unshakeable grip Johnson and the #48 team had on the standings. Johnson’s victory at Texas further solidified his lead, eventually forcing Harvick to settle for third in the championship – a disappointment that would only be erased after he captured his own Cup title the following year. Even now, Harvick acknowledges the psychological and technical might Johnson exhibited at critical moments, noting,
“We’ve seen Kyle dominate a lot of those races at that race track… to be able to dominate the first two stages and win the race kind of put the lid on things.”
The sense of inevitability surrounding Johnson at Dover was something rarely seen in NASCAR, which is why witnessing similar methodology from Larson has drawn so much attention. Larson’s Kansas win was not effortlessly secured, even if the numbers suggest otherwise. Harvick, reflecting on the nuances, noted that the primary threat to Larson was not one of his competitors, but his own equipment.
“Kyle Larson versus his right rear tire… that was really his biggest challenge of the day was just keeping the tires on the car for the whole run.”
In the closing laps, after a 49-lap green-flag run, Larson watched his comfortable margin shrink, ultimately crossing the finish line just 0.712 seconds ahead of Christopher Bell, with Ryan Blaney close behind in third.
The echoes of Dover run deeper than statistics. The 2013 AAA 400 marked not just another win for Jimmie Johnson, but a moment when execution met opportunity on NASCAR’s biggest stage, a combination that remains the gold standard. As Larson continues to chase his own slice of history, the sport is reminded that domination is less about one-off results and more about a sustained ability to maximize opportunity week after week—a lesson Jimmie Johnson perfected and, through Harvick’s eyes, is being rekindled by Larson.
Yet, not all spectators share the same enthusiasm for such outright domination. Some fans and critics have debated whether lopsided races make for compelling viewing. Denny Hamlin, active competitor and host of the “Actions Detrimental” podcast, pushed back against detractors, candidly stating,
“That’s not Larson’s fault. It’s all of our faults. It really is it every contender that was even close. I don’t know what else to say about it. It’s just you know, it’s not his fault that we all can’t execute.”
Hamlin’s words underline the harsh truth of top-tier motorsport: greatness exposes every weakness, not just among competitors but in teams, strategy, and even equipment reliability.
Other front-runners, like Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski, saw their Kansas hopes dashed by misfortune rather than lack of effort or speed. Elliott’s pit road problem and Keselowski’s ill-timed flat tire proved costly, reshuffling the potential order and clearing the path for Larson’s statement win. Even Hamlin himself suffered a mechanical failure, highlighting just how critical error-free execution has become in an environment where so few margins for error remain. These moments, while frustrating for the drivers involved, reinforce how the very art of domination lies as much in avoiding mistakes as it does in outright pace—a lesson repeatedly demonstrated by Jimmie Johnson throughout his career and now revived by Larson’s 2025 run.
Following such a victory, Larson is now preparing for one of the all-time great motor racing challenges—the Indianapolis 500/Coca-Cola 600 double. This grueling test will see him attempt to run both marquee events in a single weekend, a feat only a handful of drivers have even attempted. Practice for the Indianapolis 500 is set to begin Tuesday, presenting another historic milestone for Larson’s calendar. First, however, the Cup Series shifts to North Wilkesboro for the All-Star Race, setting the table for Larson’s shot at endurance racing’s most ambitious prize.
The question, then, is no longer simply whether the sport is witnessing a new phase of domination, but whether Larson can sustain such performance in the way Jimmie Johnson did, year after year. Johnson’s blueprint centered on relentless focus and the clever management of risk, particularly during pivotal moments at demanding tracks like Dover. For Harvick, Johnson’s superiority remains a case study in excellence, a yardstick by which current and future drivers measure themselves. The potency of such examples is magnified by the way they shape expectations for what true dominance should look like in stock car racing.
For young fans and aspiring drivers, the stories of Jimmie Johnson at Dover provide more than just statistics—they offer a narrative backbone for understanding what championships require beyond speed. The atmosphere at the Monster Mile that day encapsulated an intensity and certainty that has become legendary in racing circles, reminding all in attendance just how special moments of complete control can be. Larson, with each first-place finish and each lap led, is writing his own chapter in NASCAR’s ongoing history, inspiring a new generation to chase perfection.
Kevin Harvick’s reflections emphasize how the sport’s past and present intersect on track, with figures like Jimmie Johnson standing as reference points for every emerging or established star. At a time when the competitive landscape is perhaps more unpredictable than ever, those rare stretches of supremacy—first Johnson’s, now perhaps Larson’s—highlight just how unique and difficult it is to maintain an edge in a field packed with world-class drivers and teams. As Harvick puts it, seeing modern drivers echo the old playbook
“kind of put the lid on things,”
underscoring the satisfaction that comes from mastering every variable racing throws their way.
The uncertainty surrounding whether Larson’s present dominance will solidify him as the next legendary figure, or prove to be a memorable but fleeting era, adds a layer of suspense to each race weekend. As the sport moves forward, the lessons drawn from Jimmie Johnson’s years at Dover continue to set the gold standard. Whether Larson matches or even surpasses that template, the energy, passion, and pursuit of perfection underpinning both narratives will keep fans and competitors watching, eager to see which driver will next become the benchmark for domination in NASCAR’s modern era.
With Harvick, Smith, and Hamlin all weighing in, the conversation has shifted from simply who is fastest, to who can best withstand the pressure, avoid mistakes, and seize the biggest moments—a philosophy that defined Jimmie Johnson at Dover and that, for now, appears alive and well with Kyle Larson.
