Kyle Larson’s NASCAR championship victory has sparked widespread attention, highlighting both his driving prowess and the pivotal role of his crew chief, Cliff Daniels. The dramatic events unfolded during the final laps at Bristol Motor Speedway, where careful planning and team leadership underpinned Larson’s achievement and cemented Hendrick Motorsports’ status in the Cup Series.
Strategic Preparation Behind Larson’s Latest Victory
The 2025 Food City 500 saw Kyle Larson claim his second victory in a row at the Bristol Motor Speedway, marking a momentous occasion for Hendrick Motorsports. Preparation played a crucial part in this outcome, as Cliff Daniels, serving as crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet, delved into past victories for insights. Daniels meticulously studied a recording of the track’s 2004 event, a race won by Dale Jr., drawing as much tactical guidance as possible from that legendary performance.
Daniels’ analytical approach matched that of esteemed figures within the sport, evidencing the standards he sets for himself and his team. This methodical work contributed not only to success on race day but also to the deeper trust and synergy between Daniels and Kyle Larson, a driver already celebrated for his championship mindset.
The deciding moments arrived late in the race, as an unexpected caution reversed the long-expected result. Only in those final laps did the reigning champion seize his opportunity, racing into history with his second Cup Series championship. This result has elevated both Larson and his crew chief, placing them alongside Hall of Fame-caliber figures with multiple titles at Hendrick Motorsports.
Cliff Daniels Reflects on Joining Elite Crew Chiefs
Cliff Daniels immortalized himself among crew chiefs by capturing a second championship with Kyle Larson, becoming only the third crew chief to win multiple Cup Series titles for Rick Hendrick following Ray Evernham and Chad Knaus. In a post-race interview, Daniels expressed deep appreciation for those who helped shape his approach and perspective:
“I don’t know how else to say it. It’s an honor. And you know, Chad Knaus was such an influence on my career. Of course, working under him for four or five years, won a championship with Jimmy. And those two together had just such an impact on me from the team building standpoint, from how to compete, how to do things the right way…And of course, Ray Everham is just an inspiration to anybody in the Cup garage.”
— Cliff Daniels, Crew Chief
Daniels has a proven legacy rooted in Hendrick Motorsports. Before his elevation to crew chief, he was the race engineer for the No. 48 team, helping Jimmie Johnson claim the 2016 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title. After being promoted in 2019, Daniels took the helm on Larson’s team a year later, setting the foundation for a partnership reminiscent of other dynasties in the Cup Series—such as the collaborations of Ray Evernham with Jeff Gordon and Chad Knaus with Jimmie Johnson.
The tandem of Daniels and Larson has already brought in 26 race victories and two championships, firmly establishing themselves among the sport’s great partnerships. While speculation grows that Daniels may be a future Hall of Famer, he consistently emphasizes the importance of the people and culture at Hendrick Motorsports over personal accolades:
“We have so many good people and so many good leaders at Hendrick Motorsports,”
— Cliff Daniels, Crew Chief
“You know, that culture and that leadership and that level of care for people to achieve a common goal, that’s what matters. And it’s not any call that we made today. It’s so much more than that. It’s the work that went in to get us here to put us in a position so that we could even have the tools and the things that we needed to go out and perform today.”
— Cliff Daniels, Crew Chief
Innovative Team-Building Fuels Sustained Excellence
Beyond tactical shrewdness, Daniels stands out for his creative strategies in team building. Inspired by leadership philosophies and external lessons, he introduced novel approaches for the No. 5 team’s 2025 championship campaign. In a post-race discussion, Daniels described a literary approach that brought the group closer together and drove performance:
“I wanted to do a bit of a journey with the team of letting the team hear some of the very foundational things from another voice than mine. So I said,
“Hey, we’re going to read three books together as a team. We’re going to read Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. We’re going to read The Art of War by Sun Tzu. And we’re going to read Acres of Diamonds by Russell Conwell.”
— Cliff Daniels, Crew Chief
This literary journey aimed not just to motivate, but to instill principles of teamwork, discipline, and strategic thinking. Such a commitment to holistic development ensures that as the No. 5 crew achieves success, their cultural practices create ripple effects, influencing peer teams and the broader Cup Series landscape.
Ripple Effects Across NASCAR’s Crew Leadership
As the dust settles on the 2025 championship, the broader world of NASCAR braces for a shifting landscape heading into 2026. Teams are growing and reconfiguring, influenced by the path set by Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, and leaders like Daniels. Trackhouse Racing, looking to the future, recently unveiled some strategic changes by announcing new car numbers and shuffling their crew leadership.
Ross Chastain will stay behind the wheel of the No. 1 Chevrolet but is set to work under new guidance, as Brandon McSwain takes over as crew chief. McSwain brings a rich background as an engineer for the No. 24 team at Hendrick Motorsports, where his input helped secure three straight Championship 4 entries with driver Byron and occasional interim duties for Rudy Fugle. His move to Trackhouse Racing is the latest in a series of internal shifts, including changes to the president of racing operations and crew member rolls.
Ross Chastain and his former crew chief Phil Surgen forged a powerful partnership dating back to their Chip Ganassi Racing days in 2021, achieving six Cup Series wins together. Their near-miss at the 2022 Cup championship and Chastain’s triumph in the 2025 Coca-Cola 600 highlight their collaborative strength. Now, however, Chastain faces a new era, working alongside a crew chief who honed his expertise in the same team that propelled Kyle Larson’s championship run, raising both standards and expectations.
High Expectations as the 2026 NASCAR Season Approaches
The continual turnover of top crew members and engineers demonstrates the far-reaching influence of role models like Cliff Daniels and Kyle Larson in NASCAR. Their commitment to teamwork and pursuit of excellence have set a benchmark for rival teams, who are now moving swiftly to strengthen their own ranks ahead of the 2026 campaign. Brands such as Hendrick Motorsports and Trackhouse Racing, as well as drivers like Ross Chastain and Byron, are positioning their crews for competitive success, drawing inspiration from recent championship-winning strategies.
With champions reflecting on their achievements and sharing insights, as evidenced by the passionate remarks and innovative methods from Cliff Daniels, the NASCAR community finds itself at the threshold of another compelling season. As the next Cup Series year draws near, all eyes will be on whether Larson’s team can maintain its championship momentum and if emerging leaders—armed with lessons from Hendrick and roles models within the garage—will rise to meet that challenge.
