Kyle Larson’s start to the NASCAR Cup Series Chase is drawing comparisons to Jimmie Johnson’s championship years. Larson doesn’t see himself as the title favorite yet.
Larson has finished fifth, first, second, and first in the first four Chase races. He capped that run by winning at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, sweeping both stages and leading 235 of 267 laps.
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He now leads Denny Hamlin by 26 points with six races left. The run came after Larson ended a 51-race winless streak at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway on Sept. 13.
Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus won five straight Cup titles from 2006 to 2010 in the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Larson drives the No. 5 for the same team. He was asked about the comparison after Kansas, in comments reported by Matt Weaver.
“What Jimmie and Chad were able to do for so long was super impressive. So, anybody in the field would love to replicate what they have done.
“Although he might hate hearing it, Cliff is as close to Chad Knaus as you can get. I’m happy to have him as our crew chief leading our team.”
Larson has raced across motorsports, including the Indianapolis 500. He won his first Cup title in 2021 and his second in 2025, both with Cliff Daniels as his crew chief. He said he tries to tune out the outside talk.
“Honestly, I try not to think about all those things and listen or read or anything like that just because I want to stay focused and just try to keep doing the best job I can, which has worked us here for the first four races.
“Being smart behind the wheel, making good decisions, all those things. So, yeah, but it’s more than just me. The team also has to have that same mindset. I feel like they do, and the pit crew has been solid. Mechanics have been bringing fast race cars.”
Larson laughed when asked if he is now the championship favorite. He pointed to how quickly a bad day could erase his lead. Noah Gragson had an engine failure early in the race at Kansas.
“No, no. There’s still six races left, and I only have a 26-point lead on Denny. That could be swallowed up in a hurry. I scored 76 points today. So, Denny could go have a max points day next week, and I could blow an engine, like Noah did in the first stage, and I’m down 70-some points right there.”
Daniels and Hendrick Motorsports president Jeff Andrews pointed to team owner Rick Hendrick. Andrews said Hendrick is the common link between the old No. 48 team and the current No. 5.
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Daniels said Hendrick called the team’s crew chiefs and drivers about five or six weeks before the Chase, when results were down. Daniels said that support has kept the team steady.
The Chase continues Oct. 4 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Hamlin won the last two Cup races.
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