Kyle Larson is one of the most popular faces in the arena of NASCAR. Tied up between incredible speed and horrible luck, this Hendrick Motorsports driver has been able to secure only two wins this season so far. Although he sits in 5th place in the NASCAR Cup Series standings with an impressive 601 points, after last Sunday’s scuffle with his golf buddy, fans have mixed feelings about his attitude in the upcoming race at Richmond Raceway.

Furthermore, Larson had secured his 20th career win and first win of this season in the Toyota Owners 400 at the Richmond raceway itself. As the next Richmond race of the year knocks at the door, speculations arise as to how the #5 driver will do.

Back when Kyle Larson made a playground out of Richmond

In April, Kyle Larson made the run for the checkered flag with teammate Josh Berry. Berry, unable to beat Larson from the outside, fell back along Turn 1. Larson demonstrated the power of Hendrick Motorsports as he recovered from minor damage sustained after bumping into Daniel Suarez, revved his Chevrolet to its full capabilities, and aced the race.

During the post-race interview, Kyle Larson had given a huge shout-out to his entire crew. He said: “Things worked out, my pit crew had a great stop. They had to call me down a little bit…get me refocused and I was able to get it done. Thanks to everyone in this team…good to get a win, and hopefully many more.”

For Larson, it was a good start to the season. However, that victory for Hendrick Motorsport was special for a different reason. It had happened on the birth anniversary of Ricky Hendrick, the son of team owner Rick Hendrick. Ricky lost his life in a plane crash in 2004. Larson’s car also bore a paint scheme that was similar to the one on Ricky Hendrick’s car back when he used to race.

However, the current situation does not look so favorable for the Chevrolet sensation. More so after what happened with his friend and Joe Gibbs racing driver Denny Hamlin at Pocono.

Richmond 2: a face-off between JGR and HMS

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If stating straight-up facts, any NASCAR fan would admit that Joe Gibbs Racing has won 6 of the last 10 Richmond races. And with the Larson-Hamlin feud still hot, one would wonder what the former is thinking before he goes back to the track where he is the most recent winner. In the upcoming race at Richmond, there are some serious contenders from Joe Gibbs Racing that Larson needs to be careful about.

Martin Truex Jr., driving the No. 19 Toyota, has been the winner of the last eight Richmond races. Standing at rank 1 in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, this man might be a hard nut to crack. Although not an immediate threat, Christopher Bell also poses a serious threat to Larson. Bell’s average finish is the best in the field at 5.7.

With the dominance that JGR has posed on the tracks, this young JGR speedster is not to be taken lightly. Being professional drivers, both Larson and Hamlin must have put Pocono way behind them. However, it would be normal if fans found the duo going head-to-head again in the upcoming race.

Who do you think will win? Will the NASCAR community get to see another feud between the buddies? All will be revealed on Sunday. Just like you, we cannot contain our excitement.

Read more: Denny Hamlin Lets Slips the Secret Behind His Pocono Domination Over Jeff Gordon