The upcoming road course race at Charlotte looms large for Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR playoff hopes, as Kyle Larson prepares to defend his strong points advantage. Despite leading the championship picture with substantial points, Larson’s uneven record at road courses threatens his momentum heading into the critical playoff rounds in Charlotte.
Larson has claimed three wins this season, putting himself in a commanding position with a 54-point lead above the elimination line. Notably, Larson triumphed at the previous Charlotte Roval event, dominating by leading 62 of 109 laps. However, his recent struggles on road courses in the 2025 season tell a different story, as he holds the lowest average finishing position—31st—among all full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers on these tracks.
This discrepancy between overall success and specific road course performance casts doubt on Larson’s trajectory as the playoffs progress. If Larson’s inconsistency continues at Charlotte, his seemingly secure playoff standing could be put to the test. Although his consistent points haul propelled him into the Round of 12 and near-certain advancement to the Round of 8, locking in a spot among the final four contenders requires overcoming his road course hurdle. Gaining strong results at the Roval would provide the crucial points needed to reinforce his championship push and set sights on the season finale in Phoenix.
Examining the Impact of Larson’s Double Duty Attempt on His Season
Despite his three victories this year, Larson has not visited victory lane since his win at Kansas Speedway in May. Since then, he has managed a handful of top-five finishes, yet a return to dominance on the track has eluded him.
This shift came after his high-profile attempt to run both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in one day—a challenge that ended with crashes in both events. The attempt to complete 1100 miles in a single day coincided with a noticeable dip in his NASCAR and sprint car results. Larson candidly talked about the aftermath of these efforts on the “Stacking Pennies” show:
“I think looking at the results since then, it’d be hard to argue that it didn’t [affect my confidence] even though I wouldn’t necessarily say I felt any lack of confidence. I don’t know if it was circumstantial But my NASCAR stuff took a dip, my sprint car racing took a dip. I mean, it’s hard to argue against it.”
– Kyle Larson, Driver
“It was just odd and a weird coincidence. Like I said, I mean, NASCAR took a dive a little bit, and my sprint car, which both were like going so good like right before that. I was winning more than half the sprint car races I was running. We had led 900 laps and crushing it in NASCAR to that point. And then I choke up, I choke off that Sunday and it was it’s been crappy since.”
– Kyle Larson, Driver
Since the playoffs began, Larson has achieved two top-ten finishes—evidence of competitiveness but short of the dominance witnessed earlier in the year. These recent results signal the importance of reversing his fortune at the Roval, especially with the playoff field narrowing and the stakes rising for both Larson and Hendrick Motorsports.
High Stakes at Charlotte and the Road Forward for Hendrick Motorsports
With the critical Charlotte Roval race ahead, the margin for error shrinks for contenders like Kyle Larson. His early season success and past dominance at the Roval are counterbalanced by his uncharacteristically poor road course statistics in 2025. Success at the Charlotte road course is crucial not just for Larson individually, but also for the Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR playoff hopes as the team pursues another championship.
As the playoff field prepares for Charlotte, all eyes will be on whether Larson can break his streak of road course disappointments. A strong performance would enhance his position heading toward Phoenix and solidify Hendrick Motorsports’ standing in the NASCAR Cup Series. For fans and competitors alike, the result at the Roval could determine the dynamics of the championship rounds ahead.
