Kyle Larson has opened up about the challenges faced by the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team during the Hendrick Motorsports 2025 NASCAR season, speaking candidly in a recent SiriusXM NASCAR Radio interview. Despite setbacks throughout the playoffs, Larson’s perseverance led to his second Cup Series championship and added to the legacy of Hendrick Motorsports in a dramatic season.
Unexpected Detours in Pursuit of Glory
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season saw Kyle Larson and his Hendrick Motorsports crew confront unexpected hurdles. Reflecting on their campaign, Larson admitted that the team went astray with their car setups during crucial playoff races. His difficulties began with a failed effort to complete the Double — racing in both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day — which raised questions about whether this distracted from their NASCAR performance. Larson didn’t secure a single top ten finish during the first playoff round at Darlington, World Wide Technology Speedway, and Bristol, only breaking through with a top-10 result at New Hampshire Motor Speedway late in September 2025.
“I think we got a little bit down the wrong path on our race cars, and we didn’t quite realize it for a while,”
Kyle Larson said,
“We just lived in that slow state for a while. We were doing a good job executing, and I actually think being as slow as we were made us a better, stronger team as far as execution.”
— Kyle Larson, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Despite their struggle for pace, the No. 5 team rallied in subsequent rounds, clinching a spot in the championship finale at Phoenix Raceway. Larson ultimately secured the 2025 Cup Series title, remarkably without leading a single lap in the decisive race, finishing third behind Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski. His victory was a testament to consistency and skillful strategy, cementing his place among the sport’s elite and ensuring Hendrick Motorsports remained at the top of the series.
Recognizing Team Efforts and Leadership at Hendrick Motorsports
Entering the off-season, Larson reflected on what the 2025 championship meant for both himself and Hendrick Motorsports, where he has now competed for five consecutive years. Since joining in 2021, Larson has made the playoffs every season and earned 32 Cup victories, with his latest at Kansas Speedway in May 2025. Throughout the campaign, support from Rick Hendrick and the entire team proved vital.
“A special thank you to Mr. Hendrick and Mrs. Hendrick and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports. The trust and support you’ve given me since day one has completely changed my life.”
— Kyle Larson, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
“Every person who turns a wrench, builds an engine, engineers our setups or drives a hauler, this championship belongs to you,”
Larson further continued.
“This year wasn’t easy. We faced challenges from the very start – losing people we cared about, moments where we weren’t as competitive as we wanted to be and weekends that just didn’t go our way.”
— Kyle Larson, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
With the Phoenix finale, Larson joined a select group of active drivers—Kyle Busch and Joey Logano—who are multi-time Cup Series champions. He became the 18th competitor in history to claim more than one title in the series, affirming his status within the NASCAR Cup Series and adding to the storied success of Rick Hendrick’s team.
Looking Ahead to the Daytona 500 and Beyond
As the 2025 season closes, Larson now prepares for the start of the next Cup campaign, highlighted by the prestigious Daytona 500 on February 15. The event, known as NASCAR’s crown jewel, marks the 68th running and is expected to attract viewers nationwide on FOX Sports as well as dedicated radio coverage from MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Fans and the racing community alike will watch closely to see if Larson and Hendrick Motorsports can sustain their momentum and continue overcoming adversity in pursuit of further victories.
The 2025 season further solidified the partnership between Kyle Larson and Hendrick Motorsports, setting high expectations for the challenges and triumphs that await in the next chapter of NASCAR competition.
🏆 What was the turning point for @KyleLarsonRacin this season?
🗯️ “We quickly figured out where we had gotten off in those couple of months and then I feel like we got back on track.”
More on “Championship Year in Review” TODAY at 1pm ET → https://t.co/OqG2Bgu0gw pic.twitter.com/dNeH0ytyow
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) November 9, 2025
