Kyle Larson finished third in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway, but expressed deep concern about his and his Hendrick Motorsports teammates’ ongoing performance challenges at this particular track. The defending champion reflected on his team’s difficulties, emphasizing the need for major improvements in upcoming Phoenix outings while highlighting his team’s ability to salvage respectable results despite adversity. Kyle Larson Phoenix performance was once again a source of frustration and reflection.
Hendrick Motorsports Faces a Tough Day at Phoenix
Kyle Larson, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet, was surprised to capture a podium finish after struggling throughout the demanding 312-lap race in the Arizona desert. William Byron, Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, managed to bring home a seventh-place result but was never in true contention for the win. On the other hand, Chase Elliott‘s day unraveled with two separate incidents, leaving him down in 23rd position. Anthony Alfredo, substituting for Alex Bowman, exited early with a 33rd-place DNF after being caught up in a multi-car crash involving Ross Chastain and Austin Cindric.
Kyle Larson Details Persistent Phoenix Struggles
After the checkered flag, Kyle Larson acknowledged that the team’s ongoing Phoenix issues have become a pattern over the years. When asked by Frontstretch about his outlook on their performance, he did not shy away from his concerns.
“It’s concerning, but we’re always really bad here at Phoenix. At least me. William’s had his moments of being pretty strong. I feel like the rest of us three have always been really bad. We just were worse today,”
Larson said.
Larson pointed to possible contributing factors, such as a new Chevrolet body and an increase in horsepower at Phoenix, yet he could not single out a definitive cause. Ultimately, he attributed the subpar results to a longstanding inability to unlock speed at this particular track, suggesting a challenge that the Hendrick Motorsports team has yet to solve. Despite the adversity, he said past experience helped them make the best of another difficult weekend at the one-mile oval.
“Because we are so bad here, I feel like we know how to fight through it and get a third-place finish like we typically do here. Performance wise, that’s not where we should be running. So with that, yeah, I’m proud of the team. For Phoenix, we’ve got to get way, way better,”
Larson said.
Larson’s third-place result matched the finish that delivered him the Cup Series title one year earlier at Phoenix, underscoring both the team’s tenacity and their inability to compete with the front-runners on outright speed.
Team Pride and Areas Needing Improvement
Throughout the weekend, the No. 5 team faced handling woes but managed to qualify well, followed by an arduous battle to retain track position. After the race, Larson reflected on the journey to yet another unexpected third-place result.
“A good fight by our team. We kinda struggled with our car all weekend, was able to qualify well, and then just kinda fight through today and salvage a third. Was not expecting that with how bad we were, but again, proud of the team,”
Larson said.
Since joining Hendrick Motorsports, Larson—now in his sixth season—has won 26 Cup races and earned two series championships. His adaptability and competitive mindset were again on display, even as he acknowledged that only strategic execution and persistence kept them in contention on a day when pure performance was lacking.
Though Byron secured seventh place and Elliott endured a troubled race beset by incidents, their finishes also reflected the broader struggles of Hendrick’s lineup at Phoenix. Anthony Alfredo, stepping in for Alex Bowman who missed the race due to vertigo symptoms, could not avoid a crash and was sidelined early.
Looking Ahead: Future Races Present New Opportunities
With four races now complete in the NASCAR Cup Series season, Larson holds tenth place in the championship standings. The competition moves next to Las Vegas Motor Speedway—a venue where Larson, a California native, has enjoyed past success with three career victories. While the Hendrick Motorsports organization prepares for the rest of the season, Phoenix remains a focal point for improvement as the team analyzes every aspect of their recent performance. The Phoenix showing reinforced the need for ongoing evaluation and innovation, especially with the dynamic factors each new season introduces.
For Hendrick Motorsports drivers like Larson, Byron, and Elliott, overcoming the Phoenix challenge will be critical to their championship hopes. The lessons from this race will undoubtedly influence their preparations for the next visit to the Arizona track, as they strive to ensure that Kyle Larson Phoenix performance evolves from survival to dominance.
Kyle Larson Finishes 3rd at Phoenix: "I was not expecting that with how bad we were"
Presenting Partner: @MyPlaceHotels pic.twitter.com/AC0lOdve3e
— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) March 9, 2026
