When we talk about achievements in NASCAR, perhaps no feeling is greater for a Cup Series driver than that of winning the prestigious Daytona 500. While a handful of drivers, including Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin, have brought in multiple wins at the Great American Race, some other equally talented and noteworthy drivers are yet to reach that top step. From Kyle Busch to Brad Keselowski, some veterans are eager to cement their legacy by winning at Daytona. But out of all the contenders, perhaps Kyle Larson has the most to prove this season with a decade of dismal outings beforehand.

Can Kyle Larson finally win the elusive Daytona 500?

Kyle Larson is aiming to finally put up a number on the scoreboard with a win at the Daytona 500 after losing out for ten seasons. While Larson came close on many occasions, what makes the HMS driver’s relationship with the Daytona 500 so complicated is the fact that Larson has never finished in the top five even once during the big race.

Despite multiple starts from the front row, late incidents seem to always derail Larson’s hopes of a win. “I do believe that we are much, much better than what we show on paper,” Larson was quoted by AP News. “I feel like 90% of the time we’re in the top six to eight at the end of the race, the final 10 laps, then we get caught up in a crash and end up finishing 28th or worse,” he added.

The case was similar to last year’s race, with Larson retiring from the race after an overtime crash. But with the streak of failure reaching ten in 2024, Larson is certain the future has got to change. He stated, “Eventually it’s got to work out. We keep putting ourselves in position. I’m confident that we can go out there and win or at least get a good finish and get off to a good start for the year.”

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While Larson is gunning for the win, some noteworthy contenders could spoil the HMS party once more. Not only is Kyle Busch aiming to recreate Dale Earnhardt’s iconic win for Richard Childress Racing, but Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr are coming off of solid years and are eager to add that particular crown jewel win to their books. But for Larson, things could swing either way. However, if there’s any team that knows how to change their fortunes, it’s Hendrick Motorsports.

“Our time is coming” – Rick Hendrick instills confidence in Larson ahead of the Daytona 500

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Only recently, Geoff Bodine published a book covering his exploits in the Cup Series alongside Rick Hendrick and Co. While there were certainly some funny stories in there, what stood out was how Hendrick Motorsports managed to turn around their destiny by winning at Martinsville with Bodine. Not only was this their first win, but it was also needed to ensure that the race wasn’t the team’s last.

Similarly, now that Kyle Larson is not only aiming for a win at the Daytona 500 but also the Indy 500, Rick Hendrick is the ideal leader to finally help him get that elusive win. Reflecting on their 2024 prospects for Daytona, Rick Hendrick shared with AP News, “I’ve told him and all of our guys, ‘Look, we’ve led the race. We ran second last year’. We have been in a position to win it so many times and we get taken out.”

“We’ve just got to go be competitive and our turn will come. That race is so unpredictable. We’ve just got to go run the race, but our cars are fast enough, and I think our time is coming,” the team owner added. With a solid performance at the Busch Light Clash, Hendrick’s confidence in the team to help bring in Larson’s first Daytona 500 win means the odds could not be better.

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Still, let’s not forget that several other contenders are equally equipped to gun for victory at the Daytona 500. At the end of the day, who do you think will win the Great American Race?