Kyle Larson Bio
Kyle Miyata Larson (born July 31, 1992) is an American professional racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports. Larson is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, having won the title in 2021 and 2025, and he was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023.
Beyond stock car racing, Larson has built a distinguished career in dirt track open-wheel competition, with major wins at events such as the Chili Bowl Nationals, Knoxville Nationals, and Kings Royal. He is widely regarded as one of the most versatile drivers in American motorsports, having also competed in the Indianapolis 500 and won the 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Early Life and Background
Kyle Miyata Larson was born on July 31, 1992, in Elk Grove, California. He is the son of Mike Larson and Janet Larson. His mother is Japanese American, and her parents spent time in a Japanese internment camp. Larson attended his first race with his parents just a week after his birth, beginning a lifelong connection to motorsports.
Larson began racing at the age of seven in outlaw karts in Northern California. As a teenager, he transitioned to open-wheel cars, including the United States Auto Club (USAC) midget, Silver Crown, and sprint car divisions. He competed for Keith Kunz Motorsports and Hoffman Racing with Toyota backing, and during this period a USAC series official gave him the nickname “Yung Money” in recognition of his early talent.
In 2011, Larson won the 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway, taking victories in all three USAC car types in a single night, only the second driver in history to accomplish that feat. He also won two Silver Crown races and was named the 2011 USAC Rookie of the Year. In 2012, he won six USAC National Midget races, including the prestigious Turkey Night Grand Prix.
Path to NASCAR
Although Larson had expressed interest in IndyCar racing, he was signed by Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in 2012 as part of the team’s driver development program. He made his first start in a full-bodied stock car at New Smyrna Speedway, winning on February 11, 2012, and added a second win a week later during the World Series of Asphalt.
That same year, Larson moved full-time into the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East with Rev Racing, winning his first series race at Gresham Motorsports Park on June 9. He went on to capture the 2012 K&N Pro Series East championship with two wins and 12 top-tens in 14 races, earning Rookie of the Year honors. He also made his ARCA Racing Series debut at Michigan International Speedway and his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Kentucky Speedway in 2012.
In 2013, Larson won his first Truck Series race at Rockingham Speedway after holding off Joey Logano. He also ran the full NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule for Turner Scott Motorsports, winning the 2013 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year award and becoming the first Asian-American and first Drive for Diversity participant to win a national touring series Rookie of the Year Award.
Kyle Larson Career
Early Career (2012-2013)
Larson’s development years in 2012 and 2013 laid the foundation for his rise through NASCAR. He balanced dirt track competition with selected stock car opportunities, earning Rookie of the Year awards in three consecutive years across the K&N Pro Series East, the Nationwide Series, and the Sprint Cup Series.
By the end of 2013, Larson had already won races in the Truck Series and earned recognition as one of the most promising young drivers in the sport, setting the stage for his full-time promotion to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2014.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Debut and Growth (2014-2019)
On August 30, 2013, Chip Ganassi Racing officially announced that Larson would drive the No. 42 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2014, replacing Juan Pablo Montoya. He made his Cup Series debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October 2013. In his rookie season, Larson earned the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year award with eight top-fives and 17 top-tens, posting stronger rookie statistics than legends like Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon.
Larson’s first career Cup Series victory came on August 28, 2016, at Michigan International Speedway, a win that also qualified him for the Chase for the first time. He followed that breakthrough with strong 2017 campaigns, including a pole at Auto Club Speedway and four wins, including three straight at Michigan and a regular-season finale victory at Richmond. He reached the playoffs multiple times during this period, advancing to the Round of 8 in 2019 despite a fractured rib suffered at Talladega.
NASCAR Cup Series Championship Era (2020-2025)
In April 2020, Larson was indefinitely suspended by NASCAR and released by Chip Ganassi Racing after using a racial slur during an iRacing event. He completed sensitivity training, and NASCAR reinstated his competition privileges effective January 1, 2021. On October 28, 2020, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Larson would drive the No. 5 car beginning in 2021, with a contract clause that allowed him to continue dirt racing.
The 2021 season marked the pinnacle of his career to that point. Larson won 10 races, including the Coca-Cola 600, the All-Star Race, Watkins Glen, and the Bristol night race. He clinched the regular season championship and won his first NASCAR Cup Series title at Phoenix, becoming the first driver since Jimmie Johnson in 2007 to record 10 wins and a championship in the same season. He continued winning at a high rate in 2022 and 2023, taking the 2023 Southern 500, the 2023 All-Star Race, and earning a multi-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports through 2026.
In 2024, Larson won the Brickyard 400, attempted the Coca-Cola 600 and Indianapolis 500 double, and was named the 2024 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. He added a five-year extension in February 2025 to remain with Hendrick Motorsports through 2031, and in 2025 he won his second Cup Series championship at Phoenix, joining an elite group of multi-time Cup champions.
Driving Style and Strengths
Larson is widely respected for his smooth, calculated driving style and his adaptability across track types. He excels on intermediate ovals, road courses, and dirt tracks alike, using patience and late-race tire management to deliver strong results. His partnership with crew chief Cliff Daniels has been central to his success, producing multiple wins and a championship with the No. 5 team.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Larson’s signature moments are his 2021 Coca-Cola 600 victory, his three consecutive Michigan wins in 2017, his Southern 500 victory in 2023, and his Brickyard 400 win in 2024. He is also one of only a few drivers in history to attempt the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 double on the same day.
Kyle Larson Career Wins
Across NASCAR’s top three national series, Larson has compiled an impressive win total, highlighted by his success in the Cup Series and his versatility across stock car and open-wheel competition. He has also won major events in sprint cars, midgets, late models, and sports car racing.
NASCAR Cup Series Highlights
Larson has 32 career NASCAR Cup Series wins, 214 top-tens, and 22 poles. His first Cup Series win came in 2016 at Michigan, and his most recent was the 2025 AdventHealth 400 at Kansas. He won the Cup Series championship in 2021 and 2025, the All-Star Race in 2019, 2021, and 2023, the Coca-Cola 600 in 2021, the Southern 500 in 2023, the Brickyard 400 in 2024, and the Daytona 500 pole in 2022.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Highlights
Larson has 19 career wins in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with 91 top-tens and 9 poles. His first series win came in 2014 at Auto Club Speedway, and his most recent came at Texas in 2026 while driving the No. 88 for JR Motorsports.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Larson has 4 career Truck Series wins, 13 top-tens, and 2 poles. His first win came at Rockingham in 2013, and his most recent came at Homestead in 2025 driving for Spire Motorsports.
Other Wins and Performances
Larson has also captured 2 wins in the ARCA Menards Series East, 1 in the ARCA Menards Series, 1 in the ARCA Menards Series West, and the overall victory in the 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona with Chip Ganassi Racing. In dirt racing, he is a three-time Chili Bowl Nationals winner (2020, 2021, 2025), a three-time Knoxville Nationals winner, and a Kings Royal, BC39, and Prairie Dirt Classic champion.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Cup Series | 32 | 214 | 22 |
| NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | 19 | 91 | 9 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 4 | 13 | 2 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 2 | 12 | 1 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| ARCA Menards Series West | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Kyle Larson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kyle Larson is the son of Mike Larson and Janet Larson. His mother is Japanese American, and her parents were once held in a Japanese internment camp. Larson’s wife, Katelyn Sweet, is the sister of former World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series driver and NASCAR driver Brad Sweet, which has tied Larson closely to the national dirt racing community.
Personal Life
Larson and Katelyn Sweet became engaged on December 22, 2017, and were married on September 26, 2018. The couple has three children: sons Owen Miyata Larson, born December 22, 2014, and Cooper Donald Larson, born December 31, 2022, and daughter Audrey Layne Larson, born in 2018. Larson is a native of Elk Grove, California, and continues to balance his Cup Series duties with his passion for dirt track racing.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season was a defining year for Kyle Larson. He opened the campaign with a 20th-place finish at the Daytona 500 but quickly found victory lane, scoring his 30th career Cup win at Homestead, which placed him 30th on the all-time wins list. He added wins at the Bristol spring race and the Kansas spring race, where he edged Chris Buescher in a dramatic duel.
Larson’s form was strong enough to make the Championship 4 at Phoenix despite not winning a race during the playoffs. In the season finale, he suffered a right front tire issue and went a lap down, but a caution on lap 221 and a strong final restart carried him back into contention. He finished third to clinch his second NASCAR Cup Series championship and joined an elite group of multi-time Cup champions.
His partnership with crew chief Cliff Daniels and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team remained the foundation of his success. The 2025 title was Larson’s second in four seasons, reinforcing his place among the sport’s top drivers heading into a long-term contract that runs through 2031.
