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Kyle Larson is one of the top drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series right now, but switch from the Gen-6 to the current Gen-7 race car is something that he believes put a notable dent in his stats page.
He earned his 14th win in the Next Gen era on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, which was also the 30th of his career. Only 29 other drivers have ever reached that milestone, but Larson believes that number could be far higher if NASCAR stuck with the previous chassis for a bit longer.
Leveling the playing field
“I think if we would still have the 2021 car, I would have about 50 Cup wins right now,” said Larson in his winner’s press conference at Homestead. “I think switching to this car has limited us from winning.”
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It’s quite the statement, believing that he would have earned around 20 more victories in the last three years without the introduction of the current generation of car, which has leveled the playing field to some extent and made things far closer across the Cup Series field.
But if you look at the final season with the old car, Larson’s claim starts to have some merit. Not only did he win the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series championship, but Larson also won ten races and led 2,581 laps — that’s more than 1,000 more than anyone else. The new car denied teams like Hendrick the clear advantage they had built up since the Gen-6 was introduced in 2013, providing a total reset for the sport.
But it’s not like he’s struggling these days either. Larson won three races in 2022, four in 2023, and a series-leading six in 2024. And his Homestead victory last weekend was his first of the 2025 season after just six races.
“I think just being with a good team and being able to adapt to new things is something you try to pride yourself on,” continued Larson. “I think that’s an area where the 5 team really excels and the 24 [Byron] as well. I think we probably share or are top two in most Next Gen wins. Young, adaptable drivers and teams.
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“Yeah, they’re difficult cars to drive, though. You have to run really hard, and I think that probably benefits a guy like myself.”
Photos from Homestead-Miami – Race
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Fans
FansJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
NASCAR President Steve Phelps, John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
NASCAR President Steve Phelps, John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ToyotaChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Kevin Harvick
Kevin HarvickJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Joe Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs, Joe Gibbs RacingJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford
Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Spire Motorsports pit crew member
Spire Motorsports pit crew memberJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Joey Logano, Team Penske FordChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford
Austin Cindric, Team Penske FordChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Joey Logano, Team Penske FordChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing ToyotaChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
NASCAR President Steve Phelps
NASCAR President Steve PhelpsJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing ToyotaChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Joey Logano, Team Penske FordChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing FordChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Jeff Gordon, Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports
Jeff Gordon, Vice Chairman of Hendrick MotorsportsJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske FordMalcolm Hope – Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Malcolm Hope – Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Heavy smoke seen after Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford engine blow
Heavy smoke seen after Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford engine blowChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske FordMichael Bush – Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Michael Bush – Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
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