Maggie Mackenzie Wed, October 28, 2026 at 8:59 PM UTC · 3 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Six years ago, Kyle Larson was looking for a second chance in NASCAR . Today, he's closing in on his third Cup Series championship.
On Oct. 28, 2020 , Hendrick Motorsports announced that Larson would join the organization for the 2021 season, taking over the No. 5 Chevrolet with Cliff Daniels as his crew chief.
It was a decision that carried considerable weight.
Larson had been suspended by NASCAR and dismissed from Chip Ganassi Racing earlier that year after using a racial slur during an online racing event. His future in the Cup Series was uncertain until Rick Hendrick offered him an opportunity to return.
Exactly six years later, Larson has two championships with Hendrick Motorsports, and a third could be just days away.
Hendrick Motorsports was entering a new chapter when it signed Larson.
Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson was retiring from full-time competition, and the organization was preparing for a major lineup change.
Rather than putting Larson in Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet, Hendrick brought back the No. 5, a number with deep roots in the team's history.
The decision paid off almost immediately.
Larson won 10 races during his first season with Hendrick Motorsports, a remarkable run that culminated in the 2021 Cup Series championship.
His partnership with Daniels quickly became one of the most formidable in NASCAR. Larson's ability to find speed in virtually any type of race car, combined with Daniels' leadership atop the pit box, made the No. 5 team a championship contender year after year.
Larson added another Cup Series title in 2025, giving Hendrick Motorsports its second championship with the driver it had signed five years earlier.
And the organization has made clear that it intends to keep him around.
In February 2026, Hendrick Motorsports announced a five-year contract extension that will keep Larson behind the wheel of the No. 5 Chevrolet through the 2031 season.
The anniversary arrives at a fitting moment in Larson's career.
Following his extraordinary victory at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, Larson holds a 73-point lead over Denny Hamlin with just two races remaining in the 2026 Cup Series season.
His first career superspeedway victory couldn't have come at a better time.
Larson entered Talladega with a five-point advantage in the standings. By the time the checkered flag fell, that lead had ballooned to 73 points as several championship rivals endured disastrous afternoons.
Now, he heads to Martinsville Speedway with an opportunity to clinch the championship before the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Under NASCAR's championship scenarios , Larson can secure the title Sunday by earning 59 points, regardless of what his competitors accomplish.
Of course, the championship isn't guaranteed. Martinsville presents its own challenges, and a single mistake could dramatically change the standings.
But the contrast between October 2020 and October 2026 is striking.
Six years ago, Larson's Cup Series future was uncertain. Rick Hendrick gave him an opportunity, and Larson turned it into one of the most successful driver-team partnerships in modern NASCAR .
Now, on the anniversary of the announcement that brought them together, a third championship is within reach.
Source: Sports
