Kyle Larson’s hopes for the NASCAR Cup Series title took a major blow at Watkins Glen after he finished last due to a significant mechanical failure, an outcome that has prompted his team to focus on recovery. The Kyle Larson Watkins Glen NASCAR disappointment has left him far behind in the standings as the regular season nears its end.
Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, began the race weekend with a challenging qualifying session that placed him 26th on the starting grid. Determined to move up during Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen International, he faced early trouble when a major braking issue derailed his efforts. As his Chevy’s braking power diminished, Larson lost control and spun out on lap six, knocking him out of contention for a competitive position.
After the incident, Larson returned to the track on lap 22, 16 laps behind the leaders—an almost insurmountable gap. Although he managed to get a free pass a few laps later, the disadvantage remained, as he was still 15 laps behind and had no realistic chance of improving his standing.
Ultimately, Larson finished 39th, claiming just two points, thanks in part to recording the race’s fastest lap.
Team Responds to Technical Mishap and Looks Ahead
The setback was unexpected for the entire No. 5 crew, who worked quickly to address the brake line leak that forced Larson out of contention. Crew chief Cliff Daniels emphasized the team’s approach when dealing with the issue:
“When we came in and realized how much brake fluid was coming out of the lines in that area, we just took our next steps to get it replaced, get it fixed, get the brakes bled and get the car back out there.”
—Cliff Daniels, Crew Chief
Daniels also stressed the group’s resilience, focusing on their unity and recent momentum:
“There’s not a whole lot to be said about right now, other than we’re just not getting the results. We’re going to keep building on the momentum that we have as a group: our operation, our chemistry and all the things that we’ve been kind of fostering and growing this year. Never bet against yourself, and just being realistic about where we are, the fact that we have shown up with speed the last handful of weeks, I’m really hopeful that people count us out.”
—Cliff Daniels, Crew Chief
Playoff Picture Grows Dim for Larson After Points Loss
Following the disappointing outcome at Watkins Glen, only two races remain before the end of the NASCAR regular season. Larson’s chances at the 2025 NASCAR Regular Series championship have grown slim as he now sits 85 points behind the current leader, William Byron. The race also saw Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell move ahead of Larson in the standings, pushing him further from the top.
With such a significant points gap, Larson faces the risk of being ruled out of title contention if he cannot stage an impressive comeback in the final two rounds. While a remarkable turnaround is still mathematically possible—if he secures victories and stage wins in both remaining races—he would also need his main competitors to score few or no points, making a last-minute surge toward the championship increasingly unlikely.
The Road Ahead for Larson and Hendrick Motorsports
The struggle at Watkins Glen represents a major setback for both Larson and Hendrick Motorsports, who have shown strong performances in previous weeks. The next two rounds will be critical for Larson, Cliff Daniels, and the entire No. 5 crew as they attempt to rebound from their mechanical frustration and salvage their season.
For now, the team remains focused on pushing forward, relying on the chemistry and determination that have defined their campaign, knowing that in motorsports, comebacks are challenging yet never entirely impossible.
