DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Two-time and defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson has signed a five-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports, securing his future with the team through the 2031 season, the organization announced Wednesday.
The extension, which includes a concurrent five-year deal for primary sponsor HendrickCars.com and a multi-year agreement with crew chief Cliff Daniels, underscores Hendrick Motorsports’ commitment to maintaining its championship-winning team. Since being paired with Daniels in 2021, Larson has achieved significant success, including championships in 2021 and 2025.
“This team, this organization and this family have given me everything I need to compete at the highest level,” Larson said in a statement released by Hendrick Motorsports. “We’ve accomplished a lot together, but I truly believe the best is still ahead. … I’m excited to keep chasing wins and championships with Cliff and the 5 team for many more years.”
Larson’s arrival at Hendrick Motorsports in 2021 followed his departure from Chip Ganassi Racing and a suspension from NASCAR during the pandemic shutdown stemming from the use of a racial slur during an online racing event. Since joining Hendrick, he has amassed 26 Cup Series wins, leading all drivers in that span with 18 runner-up finishes, 78 top-five finishes, 103 top-10 finishes, and 7,149 laps led.
Jeffrey “JB” Brown, president of Hendrick Automotive Group, described retaining the championship team as “a no-brainer.” Team owner Rick Hendrick emphasized the importance of personnel in building a successful organization, stating that “building a successful team ‘starts with people.’”
Larson’s versatility as a racer is well-documented, with victories in stock cars, sprint cars, dirt late models, sports cars, and karts. He has secured three Chili Bowl Nationals victories and three Knoxville Nationals titles in addition to his NASCAR achievements. He began his sixth season with Hendrick Motorsports this year.
HendrickCars.com sponsors the No. 5 Chevrolet for 35 of 38 Cup Series events. The team’s success has been a focal point for Hendrick, who, according to a recent YouTube short, has closely monitored Larson’s performance even during challenging periods following the Indy 500. A Reddit post from December 2025 highlighted a humorous anecdote about Hendrick sending Larson TikTok videos of his past crashes, inquiring about his well-being.
