The 2025 NASCAR season has unfolded with contrasting phases for Kyle Larson, marked by impressive early results followed by difficulties in the playoffs. Despite these challenges, Larson remains confident about his Kyle Larson Playoff Progress, expressing belief that his team is steadily improving even if the results do not yet fully reflect it.
Larson began the year by dominating the opening dozen races with three victories and eight finishes within the top five. However, his attempt to juggle multiple racing commitments stretched his focus thin, leading to a downturn in performance. Seeking to regain his momentum, he returned to competing in dirt car races through the High Limit Racing Series, but the dominance he showed in the spring has yet to return in full force.
Playoff Performance and Ongoing Improvements
The playoff rounds revealed Larson’s struggles. At Darlington, he finished 19th as the entire Hendrick Motorsports team encountered setbacks. Subsequent events at Gateway and Bristol produced 12th and 32nd place results respectively, disappointing outcomes for a driver of his caliber. Despite this, Larson remains optimistic about progress being made.
Speaking after the Round 12 race at New Hampshire, Larson shared his perspective:
“I feel like we are really close and capable of getting back to form. There’s times throughout weekends and races where it might not show up on TV or on the results, but I feel like we’re we’re good. So, feel like we’ve quietly been making progress.”
Kyle Larson, Driver
He also described the frustrations of qualifying:
“But yeah, then we qualify bad. So, it’s like every time I feel like we’re going to, you make a step in the right direction, we don’t quite get it. But, we’re only through qualifying, so we still have the race tomorrow.”
Kyle Larson, Driver
Larson highlighted hidden signs of advancement that aren’t immediately visible in final standings. Before on-track incidents at Iowa, he experienced competitive speed; at Richmond, his performance showed clear improvement over previous seasons; and despite finishing 12th at Gateway, he felt his car was among the best on the track. He concluded that the No. 5 team has made gradual progress behind the scenes, even if it is not widely recognized.
Historical Challenges and Upcoming Race Outlook
New Hampshire, the site of the recent race, has proved a challenging venue for Larson. Over 12 starts at Loudon, he has maintained a respectable average finish of 11.2 but has only led eight laps since 2014. This track repeatedly presents close calls but no breakthroughs, underscoring both his potential and the difficulty of breaking into the race leaders at this circuit.
Practice and qualifying sessions offered mixed prospects for the Hendrick Motorsports drivers. Larson will start from the 16th position, while teammates William Byron and Alex Bowman secured stronger spots at fifth and seventh. Chase Elliott, another teammate, faces an uphill battle beginning in 27th place.
This upcoming race represents a critical turning point for Hendrick Motorsports in the current playoff round, with the potential either to alleviate mounting pressure or intensify it depending on their performance.
