Kyle Larson’s commanding win at Kansas Speedway on Sunday sent another clear message to the NASCAR Cup Series field: he remains one of the most formidable drivers on the circuit. Taking his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to a third victory this season, Larson led an astonishing 221 of 267 laps at the 1.5-mile track during the AdventHealth 400, sweeping both stages and delivering a performance that placed his generational talent on full display. Yet, as celebrations echoed around Kansas, whispers of vulnerability persisted, casting doubt on whether Larson’s season-long dominance truly renders him untouchable.
Larson’s ability to excel behind the wheel is well established in motorsports circles. With an extraordinary versatility that allows him to succeed regardless of car configuration, downforce, or horsepower-to-weight ratio, Kyle Larson has consistently demonstrated skill across a multitude of racing disciplines. Earlier in the weekend, after a dramatic wreck eliminated him from Friday night’s High Limit Racing event at Lakeside Speedway, he swiftly refocused, securing pole position the following afternoon for the Kansas Cup event. By Sunday, he not only dominated the field but also surpassed 10,000 career laps led, a feat topped among full-time active drivers only by Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin.
With his win at Kansas, Larson pulled even with Christopher Bell for the season’s lead in NASCAR Cup Series victories, intensifying the spotlight as he prepares for the notable Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 double later this month. Beyond the records—like his eight stage wins this year, a new benchmark through twelve races—Larson’s competitive drive has helped him amass 725 laps led in the last four Cup races, reinforcing the perception of dominance and momentum that has surrounded his campaign.
However, as much as the numbers seem to crown Kyle Larson as the likely champion, cracks have begun to appear beneath the surface. Denny Hamlin, a driver and close observer, remarked candidly on his podcast after Kansas,
“I think the stats are showing a more dominant race than it actually was.”
Hamlin’s insight is significant, especially coming from a direct competitor, and challenges the notion that Larson is invulnerable this season.
Race analysis supports Hamlin’s claim. During routine pit stops following the second stage in Kansas, Chase Elliott jumped ahead on pit road, reclaiming the lead as the race resumed. In clean air, Elliott quickly pulled away, while Larson slipped to a tight third-place battle with Brad Keselowski and struggled to advance as traffic intensified. Larson’s car, commanding when leading, seemed far less threatening once buried deeper in the field, echoing a similar outcome a week earlier at Texas Motor Speedway. At Texas, despite leading 90 laps and appearing in control, losing the lead relegated Larson to the mid-pack, and he ultimately finished fourth, unable to muster the comeback that many anticipated.
A pivotal moment in Kansas came when Brad Keselowski, in pursuit of Elliott, blew a tire and crashed into the Turn 1 wall on Lap 195. The subsequent caution period shifted the race’s fortune dramatically. Elliott, hampered by a sluggish pit stop under yellow, dropped eleven positions and was swiftly removed from victory contention. This opened the door for Kyle Larson to reclaim control at the front, setting the stage for his march to the checkered flag.
“When he lost the lead (at Kansas), he became pedestrian, just like he was at Texas,”
Hamlin emphasized.
“He’s less dominant than what he’s been in years past. I think he’s fast, but I think he can be had, in the sense of he’s doing a really good job of 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 them have before.”
Such observations, even when measured, inject a note of caution into Larson’s otherwise remarkable campaign. While the speed issue has become a talking point among drivers and analysts alike, few dispute the crucial role that the No. 5 team’s strategy, pit crew efficiency, and collective execution have played in keeping their driver at the front of the field. Flawless preparations and quick pit stops have proven as essential as raw driving talent, positioning Larson to maximize his strengths and limit his exposure to the uncertain mid-pack peril.
Kyle Larson himself attributes much of his mental resilience to his packed schedule, racing at an unrelenting pace week after week.
“I do think it’s because I race a lot, I’m guessing,”
Larson commented, reflecting on his ability to move on quickly from both triumphs and setbacks.
“That’s a big part of me being able to move on quickly from things, whether it’s a good race or a bad race or a wreck or good result, bad result, whatever.”
This unusually adaptive temperament is frequently cited by his crew chief, Cliff Daniels, as a defining feature that sets Larson apart amid the rigors of a demanding schedule.
“He just doesn’t carry stuff over,”
Daniels noted.
“He had a heck of a spill the other night in the High Limit race and walks right into the NASCAR race ready to go. Momentum can be a real thing, which is always a good thing, for but him, he’s racing all the time, so I think he’s just ready to go.”
Yet, even as records fall and future challenges loom, rivals like Hamlin urge the racing world not to prematurely hand the championship to Kyle Larson. Despite his sensational stage wins, statistical milestones, and unrivaled focus, vulnerabilities remain beneath the surface—especially when removed from the safety and comfort of clean air out front. The coming races, as Larson tackles new venues and the increasing pressure of postseason aspirations, may reveal whether the current king of clean air can find solutions to lingering speed concerns in traffic, or if competitors will seize on these weaknesses to level the playing field. For now, Kyle Larson’s journey is one of brilliance shadowed by reminders that even the best can be challenged, fueling intrigue and heightened anticipation as the NASCAR Cup Series season unfolds.
