Kyle Larson’s 51-race winless run tests Hendrick Motorsports’ progress
The defending champion remains positive after finishing fifth at Darlington, but Hendrick Motorsports must convert improved pace into results.
Kyle Larson’s NASCAR Cup Series winless streak has reached 51 races, but the defending champion says he is still enjoying a challenging 2026 season.
Larson finished fifth at Darlington Raceway after leading a race-high 99 laps. His result was shaped by a decision to remain on older tyres for a late restart and a pit-stop error.
Speaking to Fox Sports, Larson said Hendrick Motorsports was addressing its performance problems without finger-pointing. He said the team had adjusted its expectations and was concentrating on executing as well as possible each week.
The result left Larson seventh in the standings, 49 points behind the leader. He has not won this season, while Chevrolet teams have recorded six victories in 27 races and Hendrick Motorsports has secured two, both through Chase Elliott.
Larson said the team’s work had produced cars capable of leading laps and creating winning opportunities. He described that improvement as encouraging, despite several chances narrowly slipping away.
