Kyle Larson, one of NASCAR's most accomplished drivers of the modern era, believes he would have already secured 50 wins in the Cup Series if it hadn't been for the introduction of the Next Gen car, which he claims has significantly limited his team's success since its debut in 2022. Larson made this assertion following his recent victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway, marking his 30th career win and his 14th with the new generation of race cars.
Speaking at his winner's press conference on March 23, 2025, Larson didn't hold back, stating, "I think if we would still have the 2021 car, I would have about 50 Cup wins right now. I think switching to this car has limited us from winning." This bold statement sheds light on the profound impact that the Next Gen car has had across the competitive landscape of NASCAR, where parity has become more pronounced and the once-clear advantages of certain top teams have been leveled.
In fact, looking back, Larson's 2021 season was one for the books; he won an impressive ten races and led a staggering 2,581 laps, outpacing his competitors by a significant margin. His championship accolade that year underscored his dominance in the previous car model. However, since the shift to the Next Gen chassis, which aimed to create a more level playing field among teams, Larson has observed a notable change in his performance metrics.
Despite his criticisms of the new car, Larson's recent success should not be overlooked. He won three races in 2022, four in 2023, and six in 2024. His victory at Homestead this past weekend was not only the first of the 2025 season but also a testament to his skill and adaptability as a driver. "Just being with a good team and being able to adapt to new things is something you try to pride yourself on," Larson reflected, highlighting the efforts of the #5 Hendrick Motorsports team.
Indeed, Larson's recent win is emblematic of his capabilities as a driver. Yet, he also credited his team for executing well under pressure, especially following a pivotal moment in the race where he capitalized on a mistake made by his teammate, Alex Bowman, who was leading at the time. Bowman, who ultimately finished second, admitted to the error saying, "I guess I choked that one away. Just burned my stuff up. I ended up hitting the fence pretty bad. So yeah, that’s on me." Bowman's candid acknowledgment of his blunder opens up discussions about the demands of racing with the new car.
Larson’s continued success places him second in the championship standings, trailing only his teammate, William Byron, the 2025 Daytona 500 winner. Larson sits 36 points behind Byron while Bowman is only three points adrift in a tight race for points within the Hendrick Motorsports team. "It’s very impressive to have four in the top six. That’s extremely tough to do," said Larson, emphasizing the strength and cohesion of the Hendrick organization early in the season.
Every driver in the Hendrick team seems to be benefiting from this competitive camaraderie, with all drivers—Larson, Bowman, Elliott, and Byron—occupying the top six positions in the standings after just six of the scheduled 36 races for the season. "You’re always constantly trying to get better and evolve your race cars and team processes. I do think we all work really well together," Larson commented on the internal dynamics of his team that have led to such strong early results.
While Larson remains optimistic about the team's performance, he is fully aware that there is much work still to be done: "I don’t think that any of us are like the best car currently. There’s still a lot of work to do to get to where we need to be and just trying to get better each and every week."
Incorporating these nuances about teamwork and constant improvement enriches the narrative around NASCAR as a sport that thrives on competition and technological evolution.
Bowman, who has managed to stay competitive alongside Larson, also shared some insights into the challenges drivers face with the new car. Discussing the race weekend, he noted, "Honestly, I don’t think we were nearly as good as we were at the test... It felt like our short-run speed was obviously really good... but we’ve got to go back and do our homework and figure out why that was." Bowman's acknowledgment of the need for improvement reflects the continuous learning process that teams must engage in with every new racing technology.
Kyle Larson's strong performances, coupled with his candid critiques of the Next Gen car, echo the sentiments of many in the NASCAR community. His recent victory and competitive standing herald a promising season ahead as he vies for more wins—an achievable goal if history is any guide. Whether Larson can shift his short-term frustrations into longer-term successes will be a storyline to follow as this NASCAR season unfolds.
