Kyle Larson, the reigning NASCAR Cup champion, has expressed strong satisfaction with his tenure at Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) and hinted at the possibility of securing a lifetime contract with the team, similar to what Jeff Gordon once held. Although Larson recently agreed to a five-year extension, he emphasized that a lifetime contract is not essential for him to feel secure about his future with HMS.
Currently, Larson’s contract guarantees his presence in the No. 5 Chevrolet through the 2031 NASCAR Cup season, with HendrickCars.com as his main sponsor and Cliff Daniels serving as his crew chief. Since joining Hendrick in 2021 after departing from Chip Ganassi Racing, Larson has experienced rapid success. He claimed the NASCAR Cup championships twice, in 2021 and 2025, while his collaboration with crew chief Daniels has emerged as one of the most effective combinations in the sport.
During a Team Chevy press event held Thursday at Daytona International Speedway, Larson shared his thoughts about a potential lifetime commitment with Hendrick Motorsports.
“For me, I don’t need the contract to know that I will hopefully be there for the rest of my life, I don’t ever foresee a reason for me to want to entertain being a part of another group. I know what I have at Hendrick Motorsports and I know what I have with a great leader with Rick, J.B. (Brown), Cliff and everybody else, the Jeffs, Chad, you could go on and on,” Kyle Larson said.
“So, maybe a lifetime contract will be the next one. But I am not too worried about it. I am pretty confident in where I am at and don’t have any plans to think about going anywhere else.”
Larson’s Success since Joining Hendrick Motorsports
Since his start with Hendrick Motorsports, 33-year-old Larson has firmly established himself as one of NASCAR’s top competitors, winning 26 of his total 32 career races with HMS. His performance last season culminated in three victories, including securing his second Cup championship at Phoenix Raceway. This achievement also marked the 15th series title for Hendrick Motorsports overall.
Rick Hendrick, owner of HMS, expressed his enthusiasm about extending Larson’s contract, even joking that he would have gladly offered a longer deal if Larson had requested it.
“Well, it was expensive. … I would have gone more than that if he wanted to.”
Kyle Larson Discusses His Focus Beyond Contract Length
During the press conference, Larson also addressed why he opted for a five-year contract extension rather than a shorter term, which is common in NASCAR. He explained that his focus remains firmly on winning races and championships rather than fixating on contract details.
“I don’t get too wrapped up in the duration or all of that. … Its nice to know that I will be here for at least five years and hopefully more. And that is kind of it. I just get to work on trying to win more races and win more championships in the time that I am there. … I think that gets me close to 40 and then we will see after that,” Kyle Larson said.
Upcoming Season and Teammates’ Performance Highlights
Looking ahead to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season opener at the Daytona 500, Larson secured the eighth starting position. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott, who won one of the two qualifying duels on Thursday, will begin the race in the second row. Larson’s steady performance and strong team dynamics continue to position him as a key contender in the series.
Meanwhile, Carson Hocevar has signed a long-term deal with Spire Motorsports, ensuring his presence in the No. 77 Chevrolet well into the coming decade. Despite this, Larson remains unbothered by contract lengths, prioritizing race victories and future championships over long-term contractual concerns.
