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Kyle Larson Praises Chase Start as ‘Perfect’ for Team Success
Highlights
- Kyle Larson leads NASCAR Chase standings after three races.
- Larson gained 56 points since start of the Chase.
- He has top-five finishes in all three Chase races.
- Larson holds a one-point lead over Denny Hamlin.
- Larson credits his team’s flawless execution and speed.
- He aims to maintain lead amid tough competition ahead.
On September 26, 2026, Kyle Larson leads the NASCAR Cup Series Chase. Three races in, the No. 5 Hendrick Chevrolet holds a one-point edge over Denny Hamlin after a 56-point rise.
Larson is the only driver with top-fives in all three Chase rounds. A second place at Bristol Motor Speedway last Saturday elevated him to first overall.
At Kansas Speedway, Larson downplays the margin but welcomes the position. “I would always rather be one point ahead than one point behind,” he says, stressing calm execution over protecting a lead.
“I would always rather be one point ahead than one point behind.” — Kyle Larson
Perspective comes from early swings. He trailed by nine points immediately after winning the second Chase race at World Wide Technology Raceway, yet felt firmly in contention.
The one-point cushion is fragile under NASCAR’s format. Stage points, pit execution, and caution timing can pivot weekends. Larson’s recent consistency reduces exposure to that volatility.
He credits team sharpness. Strategy calls, pit stops, and raw speed have supported clean races. “I think they’ve gone pretty flawless for our team,” Larson says of the opening three events.
Larson is the only driver with three straight top-fives in this Chase.
Set-up windows will narrow as the Chase advances. Larson expects stronger pace at several tracks ahead, though Bristol remains a relative outlier in his confidence mapping.
The competitive density stays high. “It’s a lot of racing, a lot of tough competitors, and just a tough, tough series,” he says, recognizing the schedule’s attrition.
“Now that you’re leading, nothing really changes.” — Kyle Larson
Kansas often rewards balance through long runs. Previews spotlight likely contenders and nuances, including Joey Logano’s qualifying form and the track strengths associated with Bubba Wallace.
For Larson and Hendrick, the brief is unchanged: maintain execution, bank stage points, and avoid errors. Sustaining or extending the advantage is the clearest route to the championship fight’s endgame.
Visual Summary
+56 pts
from 7th to 1st in 3 races
Larson
Hamlin
+1
Larson holds the narrowest lead: one single point
“
I would always rather be one point ahead than one point behind.
– Kyle Larson, at Kansas Speedway
🚗💨 The Chase Rolls On!
Larson & team are aiming to stay flawless
as NASCAR’s toughest rivals chase them on the long road to the title.
as NASCAR’s toughest rivals chase them on the long road to the title.
John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.
