Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports agree to multiyear contract extension

Kyle Larson signed a five-year contract extension to remain with Hendrick Motorsports as the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series through the 2031 season, the team announced Wednesday evening. Larson will continue to carry HendrickCars.com as his primary sponsor on the No. 5 car, with the company announcing a matching five-year extension in conjunction with Larson's stay to solidify the pairing with Hendrick Motorsports into the next decade. Additionally, crew chief Cliff Daniels has signed a multiyear contract to remain the leader of Larson's No. 5 team. MORE: 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule Larson is the defending Cup Series champion, winning his second title in 2025 after scoring three victories last year. A 32-time winner in NASCAR's top division, 26 of those triumphs have come since taking over the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick in 2021 with Daniels' guidance. Larson is optimistic plenty more of that success remains ahead of him. "I think anytime you can sign a contract, it's a good thing," Larson told NASCAR.com in an exclusive teleconference. "Obviously, I believe Hendrick Motorsports is the best in the sport, and to be associated with that for a good part of the next future is super exciting. "And I think tying it together with Cliff Daniels and I both aligning is really important for the strength of the 5 team and where we continue to head. Super happy and hopefully we can keep up our success and accomplish a lot of good things along in the next (five) years." Larson's stay at Hendrick signals further stability for the organization by retaining Larson, the company's first multi-time champion since Jimmie Johnson earned all seven of his Cup titles driving Hendrick's No. 48 car. Daniels was a member of Johnson's team when he claimed his seventh championship in 2016, was Johnson's crew chief for a season and a half in 2019-20, and remains atop the pit box this season. In 2025, Daniels oversaw significant change and adaptability across the No. 5 team in leading the team to a championship that, at times, seemed unlikely. "I think I've always had that trust in Cliff," Larson said. "So when we were making big moves like we were last year, say with pit crew or mechanics and stuff, I wasn't ever that worried. I was really more so just excited because of the trust that I have in him, and I know the amount of thought that he puts into everything. So I knew whatever decision he was making was going to work itself out to be the correct one. You know, it might take time -- which it did throughout last year, but then even through the rougher stretches of races that we were having, I wouldn't have wanted anybody else leading our team to get back on track and get pointed in the right direction to go chase a championship. And I think all that played out that way last year." HendrickCars.com has been an anchor sponsor of Larson's endeavors with the No. 5 team since Larson pivoted to Hendrick Motorsports. HendrickCars.com will continue to serve as Larson's primary sponsor for 35 of 38 Cup race weekends, including exhibitions, each year. "We're incredibly grateful for this partnership with our teammates at Hendrick Motorsports," Jeffrey "JB" Brown, president of Hendrick Automotive Group, said in a team release. "Since 2021, the program has consistently delivered a nearly three-to-one return with record-breaking traffic to HendrickCars.com, over $80 million in television exposure and tens of millions of social media engagements. As we enter our company's 50th anniversary year, racing has driven results and united our teammates in such a powerful way that extending our relationship with Kyle, Cliff and this championship team was a no-brainer." The blue, white and red paint scheme that features HendrickCars.com on the No. 5 Chevrolet has become a staple on the Cup Series grid this decade as one of the most recognizable cars on track. That isn't lost on Larson, who has expanded his relationship with HendrickCars.com outside the NASCAR world and into his dirt-racing endeavors. "To have the success that we've had together since 2021 and looking on to the future again, just tying it all together, I hope we can go on a really good run," Larson said. "You know, when you think of Jeff (Gordon), I feel like you think of DuPont. When you think of Jimmie Johnson, you think of Lowe's. So yeah, I think a lot of it's the same with us, so hopefully we can just do a good job." [caption id="attachment_499609" align="alignright" width="640"]Chris Graythen | Getty Images[/caption] Larson, 33, has won three of NASCAR's four crown-jewel events, including the 2021 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the 2023 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and the 2024 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Elk Grove, California, native is chasing a win in the Daytona 500 to complete a victory quartet of storied stock-car races. Larson will have his 13th chance to win the "Great American Race" as the NASCAR Cup Series begins its 2026 season with the Daytona 500 on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX, HBO Max, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. "When you look at what it takes to succeed at the highest level year after year, it starts with people," Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group, said in a release. "Kyle is one of the most complete drivers in our sport. His talent, work ethic and instincts give us a chance to win every time we race. Cliff is a true servant leader who brings out the best in everyone around him and sets the standard for how we go to the track. Having HendrickCars.com alongside this group continues to create real, measurable value for our automotive business. Together, it's a combination that will keep winning races and competing for championships for a long time." Larson joined the Cup ranks full-time in 2014, then driving the No. 42 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing after a highly successful charge through the dirt-racing ranks. While at Ganassi, Larson won six Cup races in addition to a victory in the 2015 Rolex 24 endurance race at the Daytona International Speedway road course in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. His background and subsequent success have, in some ways, mirrored those of Jeff Gordon, vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR Hall of Famer and four-time Cup Series champion. Larson has stated he doesn't spend time thinking much about his legacy, but Gordon has long been one of his idols. Gordon since returned that fandom in Larson's favor, dating back to at least 2014 when he and then-rookie Larson shared a fierce but thrilling battle for second place at Chicagoland Speedway. In the decade-plus since then, the two have grown to be friends as much as they've grown as a boss and employee. "Jeff Gordon is somebody I've looked up to my whole life, since before I started racing," Larson said. "You know, I was a massive Jeff Gordon fan like many of us were. And then that relationship has grown into more like not a working relationship -- more of just a friendship, which I think is what makes any working relationship a good one. So yeah, I really enjoy having Jeff in my corner. I think he's obviously a big fan of mine. Been a fan of mine for a long time. Both growing up in Northern California, I think a lot of the ties together that we have -- although a couple decades apart -- I think he's always rooted for me." The strong relationships between Larson and those at Hendrick Motorsports extend from those who work on his No. 5 Chevrolet to the top with team owner Rick Hendrick. Larson delivered immediate on-track results joining in 2021, leading the program to a 10-win season, an All-Star Race victory and the Cup Series championship. Larson's continued growth off-track is something he credits, in part, to Hendrick. MORE: Rick Hendrick's racing history includes time in the driver's seat "I had mentioned earlier just being surrounded by good people, and it starts with Rick," Larson said. "He's just a great, great person. And I think that relationship has allowed me to mature as a racer, as a teammate, as a leader, and I'm just so, so grateful. Just an amazing person, and you can just tell that he cares about every single person that works for him, so it makes you want to do a good job for him and do the best job you can every single day."