2026 kl5 effect

Today at Bristol Motor Speedway was one of the strongest performances of the year for Kyle Larson and the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet.

KL5 qualified 8th for today’s race, and when the green flag dropped, he immediately made his presence known—gaining five positions within the first lap. Strong pit strategy and consistently fast pit stops throughout the day kept the No. 5 team in contention and helped secure their second top-five finish of the season.

Larson led well over 250 laps, showcasing complete control and one of the most dominant cars on track. As the race wound down, he ultimately finished in 3rd place.

This performance made this week’s Khaos Factor an easy decision: Dominant.

With momentum clearly on his side, Larson now heads to Kansas Speedway looking to build on this run and repeat his victory there from one year ago.

 

After Busch Light Pole Qualifying was rained out, the starting lineup for the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway was set by points, putting Kyle Larson in the 2nd starting position.

When the green flag dropped, it quickly became a challenging day for Larson. During Stage 1, the Hendrick Motorsports Valvoline #5 car struggled with its setup, and recent NASCAR stage length changes disrupted the team’s strategy. Trouble compounded on the first pit stop—Larson took four tires but didn’t receive a full fuel load due to a mishandled fuel can exchange. As a result, he fell back and finished 27th in Stage 1.

In Stage 2, the race took a decisive turn. On lap 115, Larson was caught up in a massive 26-car wreck, ending his day early. The incident marked his second DNF of the 2026 season, leaving him with a 40th-place finish.

This week’s Khaos Factor lands firmly on Rough Day.

Larson and the #5 team will aim to bounce back next weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, a track where he previously secured a top-5 finish.

wurth 400 presented by liqui moly (5/2/26)

A rough outing today at Texas Motor Speedway for Kyle Larson and the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet No. 5 team. After qualifying 11th, the race got off to a challenging start, as the team struggled with the initial setup. Stage 1 never quite came together, and Larson would ultimately finish P19.

Hopes for improvement in Stage 2 didn’t materialize. Despite multiple adjustments on pit road, the car failed to respond, and Larson continued to battle handling issues. Trouble escalated on lap 160 when he spun exiting Turn 2 and made contact with the wall, bringing out a caution and dealing a major setback to the team’s day.

After extensive repairs that put the No. 5 machine 87 laps down, the team returned to the track in an effort to salvage what they could. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done, and Larson would finish 34th.

Today’s Khaos Factor rating: Rough Day.

Next up, the team heads to Watkins Glen International for the second road course race of the 2026 season—an opportunity to reset and bounce back on a track where Larson has shown strength in the past.

go bowling at the glen (5/10/26)

Kyle and the #5 Hendrick Motorsports HendrickCars.com team headed into the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International with high hopes for a strong road course performance. Unfortunately, things did not start off well as Kyle Larson qualified 23rd for Sunday’s event. The team hoped overnight adjustments would improve the car for race day, but that never seemed to happen.

Once the race began, little to no progress was made during Stage 1, with Kyle falling back to a disappointing 31st -place stage finish. Stage 2 showed slight improvement after the #5 team made a few adjustments, but the gains were minimal as Larson finished the stage in 23rd.

Over the final 50 laps, there was simply not much to report. Kyle spent most of the race turning laps and trying to salvage what had been a difficult and frustrating afternoon. Ultimately, Larson brought the #5 home in 23rd place and remains 8th in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings.

There is not much else to say regarding the Khaos Factor this week: Rough Day for the third straight race.

Next up for Kyle and the #5 team is the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, where the team will look to bounce back and regain momentum.

nascar all-star race (5/17/26)

The NASCAR All-Star Race was held at Dover Motor Speedway, also known as “The Monster Mile” — a track known for chewing drivers up and spitting them right back out. Unfortunately for Kyle Larson and the HendrickCars.com #5 Chevrolet team, that was exactly the case this weekend.

Kyle struggled during the unique All-Star qualifying format and lined up 29th for Sunday’s event. Things quickly went from bad to worse during the opening 75-lap segment when Larson was collected in a massive 9-car wreck on just lap 2.

The #5 team spent the remainder of the first and second segments in the garage making extensive repairs to the damaged Chevrolet in hopes of salvaging the night for the 200-lap main event. Eventually, the team returned to the track with Kyle restarting 26th.

However, the damage proved too much to overcome. Just 10 laps into the main event, Kyle found himself a lap down and unable to gain any ground. Then, with 57 laps remaining, the power steering failed, officially ending the night for the #5 team. Larson was credited with a 26th-place finish and his third DNF of the season.

The Khaos Factor for this week: Rough Day — marking the fourth straight week in that category.

Next up, the #5 team heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the running of the Coca-Cola 600.

coca-cola 600 (5/24/26)

Kyle and the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet #5 team raced with heavy hearts this weekend at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The mission was simple: honor those who served our country and race in memory of the late Kyle Busch, who tragically passed away from sepsis on Thursday just days before the event.

Mother Nature played a major role throughout the weekend, washing out both practice and qualifying and leaving Kyle to start 18th on the grid. After several rough weeks for KL5, the team was looking for a consistent and competitive run — and that is exactly what they delivered.

Kyle showed speed early, driving the HendrickCars.com Chevy to his 4th stage win of the 2026 season by capturing Stage 1. Strong pit strategy and great adjustments throughout the night kept the #5 near the front, as Kyle followed it up with 5th-place finishes in both Stage 2 and Stage 3.

In the final stage, KL5 continued to show race-winning speed and appeared poised for another strong finish. However, with just 27 laps remaining in the 600-mile event, rain once again became the story, forcing NASCAR to call the race official.

Kyle brought home a solid 5th-place finish, earning his 7th top-10 and 4th top-5 result of the 2026 season.

This week’s Khaos Factor: Strong Run.

Definitely something positive for Kyle and the #5 team to build on heading into next weekend’s Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway.

cracker barrel 400 (5/31/26)

The Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway was shaping up to be one of the strongest runs of the season for Kyle Larson and the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet #5. After starting near the front of the field, Larson immediately showed race-winning speed on the concrete surface. Throughout Stage 1, Kyle consistently ran inside the top five and collected valuable stage points with a strong 2nd-place finish.

Stage 2 continued much the same as the #5 team made solid adjustments and maintained excellent track position. Larson once again remained among the leaders, showing the speed needed to contend for the victory. The Hendrick Motorsports crew executed well on pit road and gave Kyle a car capable of competing at the front all afternoon.

As the race entered the final stage, it appeared Larson was in position to challenge for a top-five finish, if not the win. Unfortunately, disaster struck when Kyle ran over a piece of brake rotor debris, which caused a right rear tire failure. The unscheduled issue forced Larson to pit road and ended any hopes of contending for the victory. Despite having one of the fastest cars throughout the race, Kyle was left with a disappointing 23rd-place finish that certainly does not reflect how competitive the #5 team was all day long.

For this week's Khaos Factor, I give Kyle Larson Strong Run. While the finishing position won't show it, the speed was there from the drop of the green flag until the tire failure. The #5 team showed they can compete for wins, and if they can carry this performance into next week, they'll once again be a threat to visit Victory Lane.

firekeepers casino 400 (6/7/26)

The FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway looked like it could be another banner day for Kyle Larson and the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet #5. After qualifying 7th, Kyle wasted little time working his way toward the front and showed the speed that has made him one of the strongest drivers at Michigan over the years. Larson finished Stage 1 in 7th place, collecting valuable stage points and proving the No. 5 team had one of the fastest cars in the field.

Stage 2 brought much of the same as the Hendrick Motorsports crew continued to make solid adjustments on pit road. Kyle stayed inside the top ten and brought the car home 4th at the end of the stage, setting himself up for a strong finish over the final 80 laps. At that point, the No. 5 looked like a legitimate contender for another top-five result.

When the checkered flag flew, Larson brought the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet home in 4th place, capping off one of the team's strongest and most consistent performances of the season. Strong pit stops, solid strategy, and a fast race car kept the No. 5 in contention throughout the afternoon and allowed Kyle to leave Michigan with a much-deserved top-five finish.

For this week's Khaos Factor, I give Kyle Larson Strong Run. The finishing position reflects just how competitive the No. 5 team was all afternoon. By earning stage points in both stages and bringing home a 4th-place finish, Larson and the Hendrick Motorsports team continue to build momentum heading into Pocono Raceway next weekend, where they'll look to carry that speed and compete for a trip to Victory Lane.

great american getaway 400 presented by visitpa (6/14/26)

The NASCAR Cup Series traveled to the "Tricky Triangle" this weekend for the 2026 Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA at Pocono Raceway. After showing impressive speed throughout the weekend, Kyle Larson and the HendrickCars.com No. 5 Chevrolet rolled off from the front row after qualifying second, giving the team high hopes for a strong afternoon in Pennsylvania.

When the green flag dropped, Larson immediately proved he had one of the fastest cars in the field. The No. 5 team focused on maintaining track position and maximizing speed through Pocono's three unique corners. Larson spent much of the opening stage racing inside the top five and was able to collect valuable stage points with an impressive second-place finish at the end of Stage 1.

The HendrickCars.com Chevrolet continued to show speed during the second stage, but varying pit strategies throughout the field shuffled Larson deeper in the running order. Despite the loss of track position, Larson battled through traffic and brought home a 17th-place finish in Stage 2 while the team continued making adjustments for the final segment of the race.

As the race entered the final stage, crew chief Cliff Daniels and the No. 5 team focused on putting Larson in position to capitalize when it mattered most. The adjustments paid off as Larson steadily worked his way back toward the front, navigating traffic and making key passes during the closing laps. When the checkered flag waved, Larson drove the HendrickCars.com No. 5 Chevrolet to a strong fifth-place finish, adding another top-five result to his 2026 campaign.

While the team may have hoped for a trip to Victory Lane, the weekend showcased the speed and resilience that have made Larson and the No. 5 team championship contenders throughout the season. A second-place finish in Stage 1 and a top-five finish in the race provide positive momentum as the summer stretch of the schedule continues. For this week's Khaos Factor, I give Kyle Larson Strong Run. 

Next up, the NASCAR Cup Series heads west for a historic first-time event at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, California. The unique street-course layout will provide a completely different challenge from Pocono Raceway, but Larson's road-course talent and adaptability should make the HendrickCars.com No. 5 Chevrolet one to watch as NASCAR takes on one of the most anticipated new venues of the 2026 season.

anduril 250 race the base (6/21/26)

The inaugural Anduril 250 at Naval Base Coronado brought NASCAR to one of the most unique venues in series history, and Kyle Larson and the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet were up to the challenge. After showing impressive speed throughout the weekend and topping the practice charts on Friday, Larson entered race day as one of the favorites on the demanding 3.4-mile street course.

When the green flag dropped, Larson immediately positioned himself among the frontrunners. The tight corners, elevation changes, and unforgiving barriers around the Qualcomm Circuit made passing difficult, but Larson's road-course talent was on full display. Through a combination of raw speed and smart race management, the No. 5 team collected a strong third-place finish in Stage 1, earning valuable stage points and setting the tone for the remainder of the afternoon.

Stage 2 saw crew chief Cliff Daniels and the No. 5 team lean heavily on strategy, balancing track position with tire conservation on the challenging street course. Larson remained firmly inside the top five throughout the stage, avoiding trouble while keeping pace with the race leaders. The team focused on maintaining long-run speed and preparing for the final stage, knowing that track position would be critical once the race entered its closing laps.

The strategy paid off in the final stage as Larson continued to battle near the front. Several late-race cautions and varying pit strategies shuffled the field, but the HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet never strayed far from contention. Larson methodically worked his way through traffic and positioned himself for a late charge, ultimately bringing the No. 5 machine home with a hard-fought third-place finish. The podium result marks another strong showing for Larson and his team as they continue to build momentum during the summer stretch of the season.

A major factor in Sunday's success was the team's strategic approach. Rather than sacrificing long-run pace for short-term track position, Daniels and the No. 5 crew focused on keeping Larson in clean air, maximizing tire life, and ensuring the car remained balanced throughout each run. The patience shown throughout the race allowed Larson to capitalize when it mattered most and secure another impressive road-course finish.

This week's KL5 Khaos Factor Rating: DOMINANT. Larson showcased elite speed from the moment the cars unloaded, led practice during the weekend, scored stage points, ran among the leaders all day, and capped off the inaugural event with a podium finish. It was the type of performance that reminds the NASCAR garage why Larson remains one of the sport's premier road-course racers.

Next weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series heads north to Sonoma Raceway for another road-course challenge. Larson has enjoyed success at Sonoma in the past and will look to carry the momentum from Coronado into wine country. If the speed shown this weekend is any indication, the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet should once again be a contender for stage wins, a race victory, and valuable championship points.

toyota / save mart 350 (6/28/26)

Kyle Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet continued their impressive summer stretch Sunday afternoon at Sonoma Raceway, turning in another strong performance in the 2026 Toyota/Save Mart 350. Larson qualified third with a lap of 1:15.322, putting himself in prime position to battle at the front on one of NASCAR's most technical road courses.

From the drop of the green flag, Larson remained a contender throughout the afternoon. Smart strategy, consistent speed, and clean execution kept the HendrickCars.com team inside the top five for most of the race. Larson collected valuable stage points with a Stage 1 finish of 9th before continuing his charge in Stage 2, where he finished 11th. When it mattered most, the No. 5 team was once again in the hunt, bringing home an outstanding 4th-place finish. The result marks Larson's fourth consecutive top-five finish, proving that the team has found its rhythm as the season enters its second half.

This week's Khaos Factor Rating: Strong Run

While victory lane remained just out of reach, Larson once again demonstrated the speed, consistency, and execution needed to contend every week. Road course racing demands precision, patience, and strategy, and the No. 5 team delivered all three. Four straight top-five finishes speak volumes about the momentum this team has built heading into the summer stretch.

Next weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to Chicagoland Speedway for the eero 400, marking another stop at the 1.5-mile oval after the series' long absence. The last NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway was held in 2019, when Alex Bowman earned his first career Cup Series victory before the track disappeared from the schedule for several seasons. Now, the series returns to one of its former staples, and Larson will look to carry his recent momentum into Chicagoland in search of extending his top-five streak—and perhaps adding another trophy to the Hendrick Motorsports collection.

eero 400 (7/5/26)

Kyle Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet team entered the inaugural 2026 eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway looking to build on four consecutive top five finishes, and early on, it appeared they had the speed to do just that. Larson qualified an impressive second with a front-row starting position after posting one of the fastest laps of the weekend, giving the team confidence heading into NASCAR's long-awaited return to Chicagoland. Despite a pre-race inspection penalty that cost the team pit selection, Larson wasted little time establishing himself as one of the race's frontrunners.

The opening stage showcased just how competitive the No. 5 Chevrolet was. Larson consistently ran among the leaders and collected valuable stage points with a second-place finish in Stage 1. Unfortunately, the momentum quickly shifted during the second stage. On Lap 93, Larson spun, forcing the team into recovery mode for the remainder of the afternoon. The incident left the Hendrick Motorsports team with significant ground to make up, and despite their efforts, Larson finished 35th in Stage 2.

The final stage became an uphill battle. Larson and crew chief Cliff Daniels continued fighting to salvage as much as possible, but the earlier setback proved too much to overcome. After spending much of the closing laps trying to recover, Larson crossed the finish line in 34th place, marking one of the toughest outings of the season. While the finishing position certainly wasn't representative of the speed the No. 5 team displayed early in the race, the determination to continue battling until the checkered flag remained evident.

The result earns this week's Khaos Factor rating of Rough Day

With Chicagoland now in the rearview mirror, Larson and the No. 5 team will look to quickly regroup as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to EchoPark Speedway. They'll be aiming to put this difficult race behind them and rediscover the speed that made them one of the strongest teams during the opening stages at Chicagoland as they continue their push toward the Chase.

quaker state 400 available at walmart (7/12/26)

Kyle Larson and the HendrickCars.com No. 5 team entered the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at EchoPark Speedway looking to rebound after a difficult outing at Chicagoland, and the weekend started on a high note. Larson qualified an impressive third with a blistering lap of 30.902 seconds, once again showing the raw speed that has become a trademark of the No. 5 team. Starting near the front gave Larson an early opportunity to contend for the victory on one of NASCAR's most unpredictable drafting tracks.

Larson wasted little time proving he had one of the fastest cars in the field. He remained among the leaders throughout the opening segment and crossed the line in third place at the conclusion of Stage 1, collecting valuable stage points while positioning himself as a legitimate contender. However, just as Stage 2 was underway, Mother Nature took center stage. Heavy rain forced the race into a lengthy three-hour weather delay, completely changing the rhythm of the event before racing resumed.

Following the delay, Larson continued to battle in the lead pack despite the constantly changing conditions and aggressive drafting. The No. 5 team brought home an 11th-place finish in Stage 2, remaining well within striking distance entering the final 100 laps. While the stage result didn't reflect the speed of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, Larson still appeared capable of racing for another strong finish.

Unfortunately, the closing laps unraveled in dramatic fashion. On Lap 242, Larson was caught in his first accident of the evening while racing inside the tightly packed draft. The HendrickCars.com crew worked quickly to keep the No. 5 in contention, but disaster struck again just 13 laps later on Lap 255 when Larson was involved in a second incident. The cumulative damage proved too much to overcome, relegating Larson to a disappointing 34th-place finish despite having one of the fastest cars throughout much of the night. It marked his second consecutive race finishing 30th or worse, an unfortunate statistic that certainly doesn't tell the story of the team's performance.

Although the final result will only show a 34th-place finish, this week's Khaos Factor is Strong Run. Larson qualified near the front, earned a Stage 1 podium finish, remained competitive through the weather interruption, and consistently demonstrated race-winning speed before circumstances outside of his control derailed the evening. Sometimes the finishing order fails to capture how competitive a team truly was, and EchoPark Speedway was one of those nights for the No. 5 team.

With two frustrating finishes in consecutive weeks, Larson and the HendrickCars.com team now turn their attention to North Wilkesboro Speedway. If the speed shown over the past two races is any indication, the No. 5 team has every reason to believe better finishes are just around the corner. Clean races and a little better luck could quickly put Larson back where he belongs—battling for wins and continuing his push toward The Chase. 

window world 450 (7/19/26)

Kyle Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com team faced an uphill battle before the green flag even waved at the 2026 Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. With qualifying rained out, the starting lineup was set by the previous week's finishing order, leaving Larson to roll off from the 27th position. While the starting spot wasn't ideal, the team remained optimistic about working their way through the field on the historic short track.

Larson's night took an unfortunate turn during the opening stage. During the first round of pit stops, contact between Larson and Connor Zilisch caused damage to the No. 5 Chevrolet. While the damage wasn't race-ending, it significantly affected the car's handling for the remainder of the event. From that point forward, Larson battled an ill-handling race car, making it difficult to gain positions on the tight, demanding North Wilkesboro layout. He ended Stage 1 in 31st, well below the pace the team had hoped for.

The Hendrick Motorsports crew continued making adjustments throughout the race, and those changes slowly paid dividends during Stage 2. Although the car still wasn't at its best, Larson was able to make gradual progress through the field, climbing to a 22nd-place finish at the end of the second stage. It wasn't the kind of speed fans have come to expect from the No. 5 team, but it showed the group's determination to keep improving despite the early setback.

Over the final stage, Larson continued to chip away at the deficit. With perseverance, solid pit work, and smart race management, he advanced another seven positions to take the checkered flag in 15th. While the result wasn't enough to contend for a top-10 finish, recovering 12 spots from the end of Stage 1 highlighted the team's resilience after the early contact left them fighting an uphill battle all evening.

Khaos Factor: Off Pace

This week's Khaos Factor is Off Pace. The early pit-road incident with Connor Zilisch put Larson behind from the outset, and despite steady improvements throughout the race, the No. 5 team never found the speed needed to challenge the leaders. Salvaging a 15th-place finish was a respectable recovery, but it was still a frustrating night for a team accustomed to competing for victories.

Next up is one of NASCAR's crown jewel events as the Cup Series returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG. Larson has every reason to feel confident heading into the weekend after finishing second in last year's race. With Indianapolis historically rewarding speed, strategy, and execution, the No. 5 team will be looking to put North Wilkesboro behind them and return to victory contention at one of the sport's most iconic venues.

brickyard 400 presented by ppg (7/26/26)

Kyle Larson arrived at the 2026 Brickyard 400 Presented by PPG looking poised for another strong run at one of NASCAR's crown jewel events. After a solid qualifying effort, the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet unloaded with impressive speed, and Larson wasted little time proving he had a car capable of contending for the victory. Early in the race, he charged toward the front of the field, showing the balance and pace that made it clear the No. 5 team was once again in the hunt for a trip to Victory Lane. In fact, Larson had worked his way into the front of the field and appeared to be in position to capitalize as the pit cycle played out.

Unfortunately, what looked like a promising afternoon came to a sudden and heartbreaking end on Lap 45. While in the lead, Larson suffered a blown left-rear tire entering Turn 3, sending the No. 5 Chevrolet hard into the outside wall. The impact caused significant damage and ended his race long before the halfway point, resulting in his fourth DNF of the 2026 season. It was another frustrating setback for a team that had shown race-winning speed but once again saw circumstances beyond its control erase what could have been a strong finish.

Khaos Factor: Rough Day
There's simply no other way to describe this weekend. Larson and the No. 5 team brought a fast race car to Indianapolis and looked like legitimate contenders from the drop of the green flag, but mechanical misfortune ended their afternoon before they ever had the opportunity to challenge for the win. While the speed was certainly encouraging, the final result adds another DNF to a season that has featured more than its fair share of bad luck.

The NASCAR Cup Series now heads into an off weekend, giving the Hendrick Motorsports team valuable time to regroup and reset. When the series returns, Larson will look to put the disappointment of Indianapolis behind him and begin building momentum once again at Iowa Speedway, where he'll aim to rebound and get the No. 5 team back in contention.

iowa corn 350 powered by ethanol (8/9/26)

What started as a promising weekend at Iowa Speedway quickly turned into one of the toughest afternoons of the season for Kyle Larson and the HendrickCars.com No. 5 Chevrolet in Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol.

Larson entered the weekend looking to get the No. 5 team back on track following a disappointing end to the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. From the moment the cars hit the track in Iowa, there were plenty of reasons to believe a rebound could be coming. The weekend started exactly how Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team needed it to. Larson put together an impressive qualifying lap of 23.492 seconds, earning the second starting position alongside polesitter Ryan Blaney. Starting from the outside of the front row immediately put the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet in position to contend at the front, and Larson showed early that his qualifying speed wasn't a fluke. Throughout the opening stage, Larson kept himself among the leaders and showed that the No. 5 had the speed necessary to compete near the front. When Stage 1 came to an end, Larson crossed the line in third place, collecting valuable stage points and putting together a strong opening portion of the Iowa Corn 350. It looked like exactly the afternoon the No. 5 team needed. Unfortunately, everything was about to change.

The turning point of Larson's afternoon came on Lap 149. An incident involving John Hunter Nemechek ultimately collected Larson and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman, with Larson getting into the outside wall. In a matter of moments, an afternoon that had begun with Larson fighting near the front became a battle simply to stay in the race. The damage to the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet was significant, but Larson and the No. 5 team weren't ready to call it a day.

The biggest issue resulting from the accident was damage to the left-rear toe link. Larson was forced to spend an extended amount of time on pit road while the No. 5 crew went to work replacing the damaged component. The repairs allowed Larson to continue, but the time spent getting the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet back into racing condition came at a huge cost. By the time Larson returned to competition, he was three laps down. At a short track like Iowa, where the leaders can work their way through traffic quickly, recovering multiple laps was going to be an enormous challenge. Larson continued to grind away, but Stage 2 ended with the No. 5 scored in 33rd place. From there, the objective changed. Winning was no longer realistic. A top 10 or top 20 finish was out of reach. The focus became getting everything possible out of a badly damaged race car and making it to the checkered flag.

Larson and the HendrickCars.com team continued working throughout the remainder of the afternoon, but there was simply no recovering from the damage sustained earlier in the race. After beginning the day on the outside of the front row and finishing Stage 1 in third, Larson eventually crossed the finish line in 33rd position, 18 laps behind the leaders. It was a result that didn't reflect the speed the No. 5 showed at the beginning of the weekend. That may be the most frustrating part. This wasn't an afternoon where Larson and the HendrickCars.com team simply missed the setup or struggled for pace. They qualified on the front row and spent the opening portion of the race competing near the front. One incident completely changed the complexion of their afternoon.

This week's Khaos Factor: Rough Day

There really isn't another rating that fits Iowa. The speed was there. The qualifying performance was there. The opening stage was there. Then Lap 149 happened. Damage, a broken left-rear toe link, multiple laps lost making repairs and ultimately an 18-lap deficit turned what looked like a potential top five afternoon into a 33rd-place finish. For Larson and the No. 5 team, Iowa will simply be one to put behind them.

The good news about NASCAR is that there isn't much time to dwell on a difficult afternoon. Next weekend, Kyle Larson and the HendrickCars.com No. 5 Chevrolet head to Richmond Raceway, where another short-track challenge awaits. After showing legitimate speed before everything unraveled at Iowa, the No. 5 team doesn't necessarily need to reinvent anything heading into Richmond. They need to take the positives from the beginning of this weekend, clean up the damaged race car and hit the reset button. Qualifying P2 and running inside the top three at Iowa showed that the speed remains in the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet. Now Larson needs an entire race to showcase it. Iowa was a Rough Day. Richmond provides the next opportunity to rebound.

cook out 400 (8/15/26)

KL5 and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet entered the 2026 Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway looking to finally turn speed and determination into a strong finish, and by the time the night was over, KL5 had delivered one of the most memorable performances of his season.

The weekend didn't start the way KL5 wanted during Friday qualifying, as the No. 5 struggled to find the speed and grip needed around the three-quarter-mile Richmond Raceway. KL5 qualified 30th, putting him deep in the field for Saturday night's 400-lap race and giving the HendrickCars.com team plenty of work to do.

When the green flag dropped Saturday evening, KL5 immediately began trying to work his way forward, but the opening stage was a challenge. The No. 5 wasn't handling exactly the way KL5 needed, and passing through traffic proved difficult on the slick Richmond surface. KL5 was unable to score stage points in Stage 1, leaving crew chief Cliff Daniels and the team searching for adjustments that could bring the car to life as the track changed throughout the night.

The biggest challenge came during Stage 2. With KL5 continuing to fight the handling of the No. 5, Daniels made an aggressive strategy decision and brought KL5 to pit road twice during the stage. The additional stop dropped KL5 two laps behind the leaders, making a strong finish suddenly look extremely unlikely. But with fresher tires, KL5 went on the attack. He raced through traffic, regained one of his laps on the track and eventually worked his way into the free-pass position. KL5 was able to get back onto the lead lap and suddenly the No. 5 was right back in the fight.

Once KL5 returned to the lead lap, his night completely changed. The HendrickCars.com Chevrolet continued getting better, the pit crew delivered when it mattered, and KL5 steadily climbed through the field. During the final portion of the Cook Out 400, the No. 5 became one of the strongest cars on the racetrack. After starting all the way back in 30th, and at one point being two laps down, KL5 completed the comeback with an impressive sixth-place finish.

Khaos Factor: STRONG RUN. Richmond wasn't a dominant performance, but it showed exactly what makes KL5 and the No. 5 team so difficult to count out. They could have easily accepted a poor finish after falling two laps down. Instead, Daniels changed the strategy, the crew kept fighting, and KL5 drove his way back into contention. Turning what could have been another frustrating night into a sixth-place finish made this one of the team's best recovery drives of the season.

But KL5's night was only getting started.

After completing 400 laps at Richmond, KL5 climbed out of the No. 5 and immediately began a race of an entirely different kind. With rain delaying the action at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa, KL5 suddenly had an opportunity to make it to the Knoxville Nationals. He left Richmond, boarded a plane and headed for Iowa, arriving in time to climb into his sprint car for one of dirt racing's biggest events.

And somehow, after everything he had already done, KL5 went out and won the Knoxville Nationals.

KL5 started from the pole and led all 50 laps, capturing the prestigious victory and the $200,000 winner's prize. In the span of one incredible night, KL5 had raced 400 laps at Richmond, recovered from two laps down to finish sixth, flown from Virginia to Iowa and then led another 50 laps to win one of the biggest sprint-car races in the world.

It was simply one hell of a night for KL5.

Now the attention returns to the NASCAR Cup Series as KL5 and the HendrickCars.com No. 5 team head to New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The Magic Mile will present another difficult challenge where track position, braking and long-run handling will be extremely important. After having to fight from 30th at Richmond, a stronger qualifying effort could make a major difference at New Hampshire.

Most importantly, the No. 5 team finally has some positive momentum. Richmond showed that KL5 and his team can turn a difficult night into a strong result, while Knoxville once again demonstrated just how special KL5 can be behind the wheel of virtually anything.

Richmond: sixth place and a Strong Run. Knoxville: Victory Lane. Next stop: The Magic Mile.

dollar tree 301 (8/23/26)

The HendrickCars.com No. 5 team put together one of its strongest and most complete performances of the summer Sunday afternoon in the Dollar Tree 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. From winning the opening stage to battling near the front throughout the afternoon and ultimately bringing home a fifth-place finish, KL5 and the No. 5 team showed plenty of speed at the Magic Mile.

The weekend started with KL5 showing encouraging speed in Saturday's practice and qualifying sessions. When it came time to set the starting lineup, KL5 turned a lap of 29.199 seconds at 130.443 mph, putting the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet ninth on the starting grid. While it wasn't a front-row qualifying effort, the No. 5 showed strong long-run potential heading into Sunday's 301-lap race.

Once the green flag dropped, KL5 wasted little time showing that the No. 5 was going to be a factor. With changing track conditions early in the race and the field eventually transitioning from wet-weather tires to slicks, KL5 steadily worked his way toward the front. Following a restart late in the opening stage, KL5 made an aggressive move underneath Shane van Gisbergen for the lead and took control. From there, KL5 held on to capture Stage 1, earning the stage victory and valuable bonus points while establishing the HendrickCars.com No. 5 as one of the cars to beat.

Stage 2 continued to showcase the strength of the No. 5. Strategy shuffled the running order after KL5 and several of the leaders came to pit road, forcing him to work his way back toward the front. KL5 steadily climbed through the field as Ryan Blaney and Josh Berry emerged as two of the strongest challengers. When Stage 2 concluded on Lap 185, KL5 crossed the line in fifth place, giving the No. 5 two top-five stage finishes and keeping the team firmly in contention entering the final portion of the race.

The final 116 laps became a battle of strategy, restarts and track position. KL5 remained within striking distance while the race up front shifted between Berry, Bubba Wallace and eventual winner Ryan Blaney. A series of cautions and different tire strategies mixed up the running order, but KL5 and the HendrickCars.com team continued grinding away. When the checkered flag finally flew after 301 laps, KL5 brought the No. 5 Chevrolet home in fifth place, completing an afternoon that included a stage victory, another top-five stage result and a top-five race finish.

Khaos Factor: STRONG RUN. This one earns that rating without much debate. 

Now the attention turns to one of the wildest races on the entire schedule: Daytona International Speedway. The Cup Series heads to Daytona for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday night, August 29, the final race before The Chase begins. After a strong afternoon at the Magic Mile, KL5 heads to Daytona with some momentum, but superspeedway racing brings an entirely different challenge. At Daytona, having a fast HendrickCars.com Chevrolet is only part of the equation. KL5 will need drafting help, smart decisions, good pit execution and a little bit of luck to survive the inevitable chaos.

New Hampshire showed exactly what the No. 5 team is capable of when everything comes together. Stage 1: P1. Stage 2: P5. Finish: P5. Khaos Factor: Strong Run. Now it's time to trade the flat corners of the Magic Mile for the high banks of Daytona and see if KL5 can close out the regular season with an even bigger statement.

coke zero sugar 400 (8/29/26)

KL5 and the HendrickCars.com No. 5 Chevrolet entered the 2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway with plenty of speed. In Friday’s qualifying session, KL5 advanced to the final round and earned the 10th starting position, putting the No. 5 inside the top 10 for NASCAR’s regular-season finale. Once the green flag dropped, that speed immediately showed, as KL5 charged toward the front and was battling for the lead within the opening laps.

The opening stage was eventful for KL5. He spent much of Stage 1 mixing it up near the front of the field and was right in the middle of the action coming to the stage finish. Contact in the tri-oval sent Chris Buescher, KL5 and Ryan Preece spinning through the grass, but the No. 5 escaped major damage and still crossed the line 6th in Stage 1. KL5 bounced right back in Stage 2, again keeping the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet near the front and collecting another solid 6th-place stage finish.

The final stage became a battle of strategy. Hendrick Motorsports attempted to stretch its fuel window, hoping the race would play into the hands of the No. 5 and its teammates. Eventually, the group had to make a quick fuel-only stop with 17 laps remaining. Instead of putting KL5 in position to fight for the victory, the strategy cost valuable track position and left him buried deeper in the pack as the race moved toward its conclusion.

A late caution pushed Daytona into overtime, giving KL5 one final opportunity to work his way forward. But as we've seen so many times at Daytona, the final lap turned into chaos. A multi-car crash erupted as the field raced toward the finish, and KL5 was caught up in the mayhem. After spending much of the night running competitively near the front, he was left with a disappointing 31st-place finish.

Khaos Factor: STRONG RUN

The finishing position doesn't tell the story of KL5's night. Two sixth-place stage finishes, laps led and consistent speed near the front showed that the HendrickCars.com No. 5 was capable of contending. The fuel strategy didn't work out, and the final-lap crash ultimately destroyed the finishing result, but the performance itself was much stronger than 31st place suggests.

Most importantly, Daytona closes the book on the regular season and KL5 is officially in The Chase, entering the championship fight as the seventh seed with 2,045 points.

Now the focus shifts from surviving Daytona to chasing a championship. The Chase begins next Sunday at Darlington Raceway with the Cook Out Southern 500, where KL5 and the HendrickCars.com No. 5 team will begin their run toward the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. Daytona may not have delivered the finish they wanted, but the reset button has officially been pushed.

The regular season is over. The Chase is here. Time for KL5 to go to work.

cook out southern 500 (9/6/26)

Kyle Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet opened the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase with a strong night at one of the toughest tracks on the schedule, bringing home a fifth-place finish in the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Saturday's weather threw the weekend an immediate curveball, as lightning and rain forced NASCAR to cancel both practice and qualifying. With the starting lineup determined by NASCAR's performance metric, KL5 was placed 25th, giving the No. 5 team plenty of work to do when the green flag dropped.

KL5 methodically worked his way forward during Stage 1, but the climb from deep in the field wasn't enough to crack the top 10 before the stage ended. Tyler Reddick took the stage victory while KL5 continued working on the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet and positioning himself for a much stronger second half.

That progress really showed in Stage 2. KL5 charged from 16th during the final stint of the stage all the way to second place, finishing behind stage winner Christopher Bell. It was an impressive turnaround from his 25th-place starting position and put the No. 5 squarely in contention entering the final stage.

KL5 then became a legitimate threat for the Southern 500 victory. After the Stage 2 pit stops, he won the race off pit road and took control at the beginning of the final stage. A late caution and subsequent rain delay created the night's biggest strategic decision. When racing resumed, KL5 and the No. 5 team elected not to pit, choosing track position over fresh tires. That put KL5 back at the front, but Bell was coming quickly on four fresh tires. KL5 fought to hold him off until Bell finally made the pass with 12 laps remaining. With the tire disadvantage becoming increasingly difficult to overcome, KL5 ultimately slipped back but still salvaged a solid fifth-place finish.

It was exactly the type of performance KL5 needed to begin the Chase. Starting 25th, driving through the field, finishing second in Stage 2, contending for the win late and ultimately leaving Darlington with a top five made this a very productive night. KL5 also remains seventh in the Chase standings, now 49 points behind leader Denny Hamlin.

Kahos Factor: STRONG RUN. The final strategy didn't produce the victory, but taking a chance for track position was worth the gamble with a Southern 500 on the line. More importantly, the speed was there, and KL5 showed he can be a factor as the championship battle gets underway.

Next up, KL5 and the HendrickCars.com No. 5 head to World Wide Technology Raceway. It's one of only two tracks in the 10-race Chase where KL5 has yet to score a Cup Series victory, making next weekend another opportunity to check a track off the list while continuing to build momentum in the championship fight.

One Chase race down. Nine to go. The KL5 Effect is officially underway.

enjoy illinois 300 (9/13/26)

Kyle Larson and the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet #5 finally broke through in a huge way Sunday afternoon at World Wide Technology Raceway, capturing the Enjoy Illinois 300 and delivering one of the biggest performances of KL5’s season. After weeks of speed, near misses and frustrating finishes, everything finally came together at Gateway as KL5 survived a chaotic afternoon, played the strategy game and delivered when it mattered most.

The weekend started with plenty of promise in qualifying. KL5 put the HendrickCars.com #5 Chevrolet second on the starting grid, posting a lap of 135.980 mph. Joey Logano earned the pole, but starting alongside him on the front row immediately showed that the #5 had serious speed for Sunday.

Once the green flag dropped, KL5 wasted little time establishing himself as one of the cars to beat. Logano controlled the opening stage, but the #5 remained right in the fight despite numerous early cautions. When Stage 1 ended at Lap 45, KL5 crossed the line third, collecting eight valuable stage points and putting himself in excellent position for the rest of the afternoon.

Strategy became a major part of the story in Stage 2. With several drivers using different pit sequences, the #5 team stayed disciplined and kept KL5 positioned near the front. After another caution around Lap 64, many Chase contenders came to pit road with teams mixing up two-tire and four-tire calls. As the different strategies cycled through, KL5 worked his way to the front and passed Ross Chastain for the lead on Lap 81. From there, KL5 controlled the race and ultimately captured Stage 2, adding a stage victory and another 10 valuable points to an already impressive afternoon.

The final stage turned the Enjoy Illinois 300 into a strategy battle and eventually an all-out survival test. When much of the field pitted during a caution, KL5 stayed on the racetrack and inherited the lead for the Lap 163 restart. That decision temporarily gave the #5 track position, but when another caution came at Lap 170, KL5 and several of the other drivers who had stayed out used the opportunity to finally come to pit road.

Another major strategy decision arrived following the Lap 199 caution. Joey Logano and several contenders took two tires, while KL5 joined Carson Hocevar, Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott in taking four fresh Goodyear tires. The call cost KL5 track position initially, but it gave the #5 more grip for the closing run — and that decision became increasingly important as the race descended into chaos.

KL5 steadily fought his way back toward the front. By the Lap 220 restart, Logano had taken the lead, but KL5 quickly moved into second place. Then came more crashes, more cautions and more opportunities. With eight laps remaining, KL5 found himself back out front and began controlling the gap over Logano. It looked like he might finally have the victory secured — until another caution with only three laps remaining sent the race into overtime.

And one overtime wasn't enough.

The first attempt was spoiled by another incident, setting up double overtime and one final pressure-packed restart. After waiting 51 races to return to Victory Lane, KL5 wasn't going to let this one slip away. With Logano and the rest of the field behind him, KL5 delivered when it mattered most, controlled the final restart and drove the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet #5 across the finish line FIRST.

The victory is KL5’s first NASCAR Cup Series win of the 2026 season, his first career Cup victory at World Wide Technology Raceway and the 33rd Cup Series victory of his career. More importantly, it ended a 51-race winless drought and came at exactly the right time during the NASCAR Cup Series Chase. The win unofficially moved KL5 up to second in the Chase standings.

This was more than simply a fast race car. The #5 team had to execute through changing pit strategies, short runs, long runs, two-tire versus four-tire decisions, repeated cautions and two overtime attempts. KL5 started second, finished P3 in Stage 1, won Stage 2, and then finished the job when everything was on the line.

Khaos Factor: LEGENDARY KL5

There couldn't be another rating this week. This is exactly what Legendary KL5 was created for. After the adversity and missed opportunities throughout 2026, KL5 and the HendrickCars.com #5 team finally put together the complete race and returned to Victory Lane. They didn't just survive the Khaos at Gateway — they conquered it.

Now the celebration gives way to one of NASCAR's biggest nights. Next Saturday night, KL5 and the #5 team head to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on September 19. Bristol will be the third race of the Chase, and after finally breaking through at Gateway, KL5 heads into Thunder Valley carrying something the #5 team has been searching for all season:

Momentum.

Gateway belonged to KL5. Now it's time to take that momentum under the lights at Bristol.

bass pro shops night race (9/19/26)