DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Kyle Larson, the two-time and reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, is expanding his racing pursuits by launching a micro-racing team designed specifically for his children starting in 2026. Larson has acquired trucks, trailers, cars, engines, parts, and shop space, along with hiring employees, to support his 11-year-old son Owen and 7-year-old daughter Audrey as they compete in scaled-down sprint car racing.
Larson expressed full commitment to this new endeavor, stating, “We are fully invested.” However, managing this endeavor might grow even more complicated, as his youngest child, 3-year-old Cooper, is eager to join the racing scene but poses potentially high costs and risks due to his unruly nature.
In a perfect world, I would love for Cooper not to race,
Larson said.
He’s the craziest, for sure, of the three. I think he’ll be the most expensive, probably, because I’m sure he’ll be tearing up the most equipment. So, we’ll see if we can keep him out of it.
Despite these concerns, the chances that Cooper will stay away seem slim, especially since he likely wants to keep up with his dad’s fast pace on the track.
Reflecting on Larson’s Racing Career and Recent Success
Kyle Larson secured his second NASCAR Cup Series championship recently under surprising circumstances, as he did not claim a victory in his last 24 races of the season. Despite this, he outperformed championship contenders such as Chase Briscoe, William Byron, and Denny Hamlin during the season finale. Larson’s final push benefited from a late caution triggered when Byron experienced a flat tire and hit the wall, shifting momentum in Larson’s favor.
Looking ahead to the prestigious Daytona 500, which takes place Sunday, Larson hopes luck will be on his side again. Winning the Daytona 500 remains elusive for the star driver, who has yet to register a top-five finish at the track and finished 20th in last year’s race.
I would imagine the feeling of winning (it would) be extremely massive, if it ever happens,
Larson quipped.
Challenges and Historical Context of Winning at Daytona
Larson’s difficulty at Daytona is not unique among even the most accomplished drivers. The track is notorious for producing champions only after multiple attempts. Kyle Busch, for example, is winless in 20 starts despite having multiple wins at nearly every other NASCAR venue. Similarly, Brad Keselowski has never won at Daytona in 16 starts despite his success at other superspeedways, such as Talladega.
Some legendary Hall of Famers like Tony Stewart, Rusty Wallace, and Mark Martin never won the Daytona 500 during their careers. Other icons, including David Pearson and Dale Earnhardt, required many attempts before finally tasting victory—Pearson in his 15th try, Kurt Busch in his 16th, and Earnhardt famously in his 20th start.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., the 2023 Daytona 500 winner, emphasized the challenge, saying,
You feel it, for sure. Most people get to double digits before they win a Daytona 500 these days. The more races that go by, the more you wonder if you’ll ever get one.
You look at guys like Mark Martin and Tony Stewart who been super successful in our support and never got one. Kyle Busch is still trying. The more that goes by, the more pressure that ramps up every February.
Despite mounting pressure, Larson insists he is not anxious about the upcoming Daytona race. He recalled past finishes affected by wrecks but hopes for better fortune this season.
Prior to last year, I would just get caught up in wrecks and whatnot,
Larson said.
I wouldn’t say I have any more confidence this year than I did last year. I just hope that we have the same sort of good fortune as we did last year. Maybe it can be a few spots better to get a win.
Larson’s Diverse Racing Commitments and Recent Experiences
Beyond Cup Series racing, Larson has branched out by establishing the High Limit Racing Sprint Car Series in 2023, which has rapidly expanded to 60 events. He also competes in multiple racing disciplines, including attempts at the demanding “Double” — running the Indianapolis 500 followed by NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Larson attempted the double most recently in 2024 but was unable to complete it due to weather delays, and he suffered a crash at Charlotte the previous year.
Rick Hendrick, owner of Larson’s NASCAR team, viewed these ventures as distractions that affected performance and morale.
Not only was it a distraction with the team, but coming back and wrecking in the 600 was mentally just a downer that he had to work his way through,
Hendrick said.
I’m super excited about this year.
Looking Forward: The Impact of Larson’s New Family Racing Initiative
Kyle Larson welcomes this new chapter with enthusiasm, anticipating that the family-focused racing team will bring a fresh dimension to his racing life. By nurturing his children’s involvement in competitive racing early on, Larson aims to build a lasting legacy while sharing his passion closely with them.
It’s honestly been a lot of fun, and I look forward to kind of having our own little touch on things,
he said.
Larson’s decision to dedicate resources and attention to developing his children’s racing careers highlights his commitment to the sport beyond his own achievements and introduces a unique dynamic into the motorsports world for the 2026 season and beyond.
