Kyle Larson stormed to another commanding NASCAR Cup Series victory at Kansas Speedway this past weekend, leaving fans and competitors in awe. Piloting the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, Larson started on pole, dominated both Stage 1 and Stage 2, and led a record-breaking 221 laps en route to Victory Lane on Sunday. While Larson appeared to be in total control on the fast Kansas track, veteran driver Denny Hamlin says the win may not have been as overwhelming as statistics suggest, raising thought-provoking questions about what really unfolded during the race.
The eyes of NASCAR followers were fixed on Kansas as Larson not only seized the lead early, but methodically outpaced his rivals, seemingly with ease. For many, the numbers told a story of pure dominance: fastest in qualifying, leading most of the race, and setting a new record for most laps out front at Kansas Speedway. However, as soon as the dust settled, Denny Hamlin offered sharp analysis, hinting that there’s more nuance to Kyle Larson’s win than meets the eye.
Hamlin, a veteran driver competing for Toyota, shared his perspective on why the Kansas performance may not have been quite as dominant as it appeared.
“Every contender that was even close (to Larson at Kansas) stepped on their d***. I don’t know what else to say about it. It’s not his fault that we all can’t execute,”
Hamlin said, capturing the frustration many competitors felt after the race. He continued,
“Even when he lost the lead, he became pedestrian, just like he was at Texas. I caution this — I think he’s less dominant than what he’s been in the years past.”
According to Hamlin, Larson’s success stems not just from raw speed, but from an ability to execute flawlessly under pressure.
“He’s doing a really good job at qualifying well, executing, not making mistakes, and not putting himself in the middle of the pack. When he gets in the middle of the pack, I haven’t seen the speed that I’ve seen in them have before,”
Hamlin observed.
“You’ve got to give them their due for executing like they’re supposed to and nobody else is doing it. So that’s, you know — he’s winning them in a very dominant fashion, statistics-wise.”
Despite the impressive numbers, Hamlin expressed skepticism about the true gap between Kyle Larson and the rest of the field.
“I don’t think there’s anyone faster in the field. But I just don’t — I think the stats are showing a more dominant race than what it actually was, if that makes any sense at all. It probably doesn’t,”
he admitted. Reflecting on the competitors’ inability to challenge Larson more directly, Hamlin added,
“I know there’s an outcry of like, you know, he’s stinking up shows and things like that, but it’s not his fault. That’s not his fault. It’s not his fault. I don’t think we should fault them for that.”
While Hamlin’s perspective has invigorated discussion, the fact remains that Kyle Larson executed at a notably high level. Every restart, pit stop, and crucial lap went his way. Not only did he prevent mistakes, but he capitalized on every opportunity, increasing his lead in the series and solidifying his reputation as one of NASCAR’s most reliable finishers.
“Maybe he’s got more lap-time left in the bank, and if someone goes up there and actually challenges them, he’ll step on the pedal and embarrass all of us. We don’t know because it’s just — it’s not happening quite yet,”
Hamlin mused, hinting at even greater potential should the competition ever truly threaten Larson’s dominance.
The significance of Kyle Larson’s Kansas triumph reverberates beyond a single weekend. His flawless execution and ability to lead almost every lap highlight a skill set that extends past raw speed. While detractors and rivals may claim the races are not as lopsided as they seem on paper, Larson’s consistency under pressure is fast becoming the benchmark. As the series rolls forward, fans and analysts alike are left to wonder if anyone will rise to the occasion and challenge the Hendrick Motorsports ace. The upcoming All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 will provide the next opportunities to see if Denny Hamlin—or any other contender—can dethrone Kyle Larson and put an end to his current wave of historic performances.
