Kyle Larson burst onto the NASCAR Cup Series scene in 2014 with Chip Ganassi Racing. He was a raw talent with blistering speed and an aggressive style that stemmed from his dirt racing roots. It didn’t take long for fans and competitors to recognize his potential. His first win at Michigan in 2016 was just a glimpse of what was to come. By 2021, he had claimed NASCAR’s ultimate prize. A Cup Series championship with Hendrick Motorsports!
Since then, he has continued to elevate his game, winning marquee events like the Coca-Cola 600 and the Southern 500, along with dirt championships like the Chili Bowl Nationals on three occasions. Now, in 2025, Larson isn’t just winning races. He’s striking fear into his competition, and his teammates! Whether it’s his mastery of the high line or his relentless pursuit of perfection, he’s reached a level where his dominance just feels inevitable.
Kyle Larson’s dominant victory at Homestead-Miami
Kyle Larson showcased his exceptional driving prowess by winning the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This victory marked his 30th career NASCAR Cup Series win and his first of the 2025 season. Larson’s performance was particularly impressive as he overtook his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Alex Bowman, in the closing laps to secure the win.
Bowman, who had secured the pole position, led for 43 laps of the race, his highest in over 2 years. Despite this strong performance, he couldn’t hold off Larson’s late surge. Reflecting on the race, Doug Rick acknowledged the Larson’s clever driving tactics, stating, “I felt like Kyle Larson sort of baited Bowman to get into the wall.” Motorsports journalist Kelly Crandall added, “I heard the Jaws music in my head as I saw Larson rim ride inches from the wall.” That fearsome reputation played a role in Bowman’s misstep that allowed Larson to capitalize. Kyle Petty further added, “You see that car [Larson] coming, and he’s already in your head” Larson’s aggressive yet methodical driving style continues to set him apart, making him the driver to beat.
This relentless pressure from the No. 5 car seemed to force Bowman into a crucial mistake. With under 10 laps to go, Bowman made contact with the outside retaining wall as Kyle Larson was hot on his heels. The result? Kyle Larson overtook Bowman, eventually winning the race by 1.205 seconds. “Guess I choked that one away, for sure,” Bowman reflected after the race. Bowman later even took to X to congratulate his teammate, writing, “Dangit. Pressure from the baddest dude on earth and I made a mistake and gave it to him. Congrats @KyleLarsonRacinWe’ll re rack and go after it again next week.”
Kyle Larson – Jaws on the racetrack #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/iBUTUX1OnA
— PRN (@PRNlive) March 24, 2025
Kyle Larson himself admitted to the psychological aspect of his driving, saying, “I knew me coming towards those guys, they were going to start moving around and making mistakes, and I felt like if I could just keep pressure on Alex, he may make a mistake, and he caught the wall there, and I got around him easier than I expected to.” Larson’s prowess at Homestead-Miami must not be understated. He has the most laps led by any driver in Cup Series history at the track and despite starting from 14th on Sunday, it felt like he never left the top of the pack.
With this win, Larson further cements his status as the top driver at Hendrick Motorsports. His teammates, including Bowman, William Byron, and Chase Elliott, now face the challenge of closing the gap. However, Larson does have one regret from this weekend, and it all stems from the Xfinity race on Saturday.
Kyle Larson’s next shot at a triple-header glory at Bristol
Kyle Larson’s dominance isn’t just limited to the Cup Series. He has built a reputation for excelling across multiple racing disciplines, from dirt tracks to NASCAR, to even attempting the Indy 500 last year. This weekend at Homestead, he had a rare opportunity to sweep all three national series races—Truck, Xfinity, and Cup—but fell short. He was striving to be only the second driver since Kyle Busch to sweep all three series in a weekend, and Buch has done it twice! Bristol 2010 and 2017. Now, after heartbreak on Saturday, Larson looks to match Busch at the same track where the latter made history.
Larson will attempt the triple header once again during the Food City 500 weekend at Bristol this April. Bristol’s high-banked, short-track layout plays right into Kyle Larson’s aggressive yet calculated driving style. He has already conquered the half-mile bullring in the Cup Series, winning the latest race in 2024 after leading a monstrous 462 laps. The challenge, however, is immense. Running three races in one weekend requires endurance, adaptability, and a near-perfect execution. At Homestead, Larson looked poised to pull it off, but tough luck in the Xfinity race disrupted his momentum.
After winning the Truck race by edging out Corey Heim after the latter suffered engine troubles, Larson was cruising in the lead at Homestead in the Xfinity Series. He led the most laps, 132, and had a 15-second lead on the grid! However, a caution flag with 8 laps to go erased it all, and the restart added salt to the wound. Larson was bumped by Sam Mayer and got loose, allowing Justin Allgaier on the outside lane to rocket past him and steal the win. After his triumph in the Cup Series race, Larson reflected on the missed sweep opportunity and said, “I was pretty, you know, disappointed all of the time after the race yesterday.”
Well, he was just one green flag run away from securing what would have been a historic feat for the HMS driver. However, he has a chance later in April to make up for it at a track where it has been done before. Will Larson rise to the challenge and accomplish what only one driver has done before? Or will Bristol prove to be just as unforgiving as Homestead? Let us know in the comments!
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