The 2025 NASCAR season has seen Hendrick Motorsports locked in intense competition, especially between Kyle Larson and the team’s younger standout, William Byron. Both drivers have continuously battled at the top of the leaderboard. However, recent performances, particularly at Loudon, revealed ongoing difficulties for Hendrick on intermediate tracks, where Penske’s Fords have maintained dominance. Kevin Harvick, the 2014 Cup champion, questioned whether Larson has regained the form seen earlier in the year and positioned Byron as a stronger contender for the championship.
Early Playoff Struggles for Hendrick Motorsports Raise Questions
Following the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff opener at Darlington Raceway, Hendrick Motorsports failed to secure a top-10 finish, with Chase Elliott leading the team in 17th place during the 76th Southern 500. While Chevrolet and Ford drivers grappled with pace, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Toyotas capitalized by winning all three initial playoff races. Yet, in the subsequent event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS), William Byron revitalized the Hendrick camp with a noteworthy third-place finish, a significant improvement after previous results of 21st, 11th, and 12th in Darlington, Gateway, and Bristol respectively.
Harvick Endorses Byron’s Consistency Over Larson’s Fluctuating Speed
On his Happy Hour podcast, Kevin Harvick shared insights on Hendrick’s mixed postseason form, praising Byron’s steady progress while expressing concern over Larson’s inconsistent speed. He commented,
“I think St. Louis and you talk about the test and some of the things that they did with their short track programme found them some speed, it didn’t find as much speed as the Penske cars found.”
Harvick continued,
“But the No. 24 (William Byron) has been consistently better, the No. 5 (Kyle Larson) has been better, he had some glimpses this weeks, of speed,”
and added,
“I still don’t see the same speed and dominant car out of that No. 5 car that we saw at the beginning of the year, that we’ve seen last year.”
Further weighing in on future tests for HMS, Harvick noted the upcoming race at Kansas as a critical benchmark for their improvement on intermediate tracks, historically a trouble spot for the team. He emphasized,
“I’m more impressed with the No. 24 car, to be honest, as far as their consistency of speed, I think they’ve been better than the No. 5. So, still don’t see it out of the No. 5 but the No. 24, I tend to lean towards thinking that they’ve a little of life with how close they are now.”
Byron Breaks New Ground at a Difficult Track
Byron’s third-place finish at NHMS marked a breakthrough at one of his toughest circuits, historically known as the Magic Mile. Prior to this season, his best result there was 11th place. Crew chief Rudy Fugle acknowledged the significance of this success, highlighting the team’s strong practice speeds, solid qualifying performance, and career-best race outcome. This progress suggests the No. 24 team has addressed past performance gaps at critical moments during the playoffs.
Currently, Byron stands second in the overall championship points, ahead of Larson, who holds third place. This positioning intensifies the internal competition at Hendrick Motorsports and raises expectations as the season advances.
Implications for Hendrick Motorsports’ Championship Outlook
Kevin Harvick’s perspective signals a potential shift within Hendrick Motorsports, where William Byron appears to have more momentum than Kyle Larson in the race for the 2025 NASCAR Cup title. While Larson began the year with strong performances, his recent struggles contrast with Byron’s consistency and rising form. With pivotal races ahead, including at Kansas, the development of the Hendrick drivers on short and intermediate tracks will be decisive for the team’s championship ambitions.
This evolving rivalry within the powerhouse Hendrick organization could define the playoff narrative as both drivers aim to demonstrate their supremacy and secure the coveted title. Fans and analysts will closely watch how this internal competition influences the team’s overall success in the final rounds of the season.
