Back in 2021, Kyle Larson was on top of the world. He won the Phoenix race, claimed his 10th season victory, and delivered a championship for Rick Hendrick’s team. It was a moment to remember with fans thinking the HMS glory days were back, with Larson leading the charge.

Fast forward a few years, and while Larson has consistently been one of the top drivers—racking up several wins a season—he hasn’t been able to seal the deal when it matters most. In 2023, Larson finished 2nd in the standings, but Ryan Blaney took home the championship. And now, Larson’s taking a hard look at where he’s falling short.

Kyle Larson’s critical self-analysis

Let’s take a closer look at his 2024 season. Larson had an impressive year with 6 wins, the most of any driver, and a solid second-best average finish (12.9), just behind Christopher Bell’s 12.8. Despite that, Larson ended the season in 6th place and didn’t even make it to the Championship 4. So, what went wrong?

That raises many questions. Surely on the playoff format, which crowned Joey Logano as the champion (despite having the lowest average finish for a champion). But it also raises questions about Larson’s performance. He had 5 DNFs! Moreover, he was involved in a few more crashes, which led him to finish outside the top 30 in six races.

And Kyle Larson feels that’s the crux of the problem. In a recent interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, he said, “I feel like we haven’t won a championship in a few years. So there is definitely room to improve on yourself and on team and car. And for me personally, you look at personal statistics at the end of the year. I think I still crash about the most. That’s one area I tried to get better at. (but) doesn’t seem like it.”

But here’s the thing—crashes aren’t the only issue. DNFs don’t completely destroy a championship run in the current playoff format. Just look at 2023, when Larson had 8 DNFs and still finished 2nd. What Larson seems to be struggling with remains maintaining the same level of consistency during the playoffs that he shows in the regular season.

Take his 2024 playoff run, for example. After coming so close to winning the regular season title, Larson’s playoff performance was rocky at best. He had a DNF at Atlanta, finished 12th at Watkins Glen, and was 26th at Kansas. By the time Round 8 rolled around, his finishes of 11th and 13th were too little, too late. That knocked him out of the hunt.

So, what’s Larson’s formula for success going forward? It’s simple—stay out of the wrecks and be consistent through every round of the playoffs. Oh, and a little bit of luck wouldn’t hurt either. But Larson’s not giving up hope. “One thing I look forward to in 2025 is figuring out how to maintain who I am without crashing as much. It’s a constant battle with myself. But I think if I can figure that out, I can be more successful,” he said, ever the optimist.

And also it’s the playoff format in question that played a huge factor. And Larson isn’t a big fan of it either!

Kyle opens up on the playoff format

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If you look at the numbers, Larson should’ve been a strong contender for the championship this year. Even Christopher Bell, who was arguably the most consistent driver with 15 top-5 finishes and 23 top-10s, didn’t make the final four either. That’s got Larson wondering if the system is truly rewarding consistency.

“I just think the format, in a way, devalues a championship, especially in the Next-Gen era,” Larson shared. Coming from a driver who’s been a key player in the Next-Gen era, that’s a pretty big statement.

Despite his frustration with the format, Larson is proud of his season. “So, I think obviously you’d like to win the most races and win the championship and all that, but I think winning six races, that’s extremely tough to do, and we were a factor in many more than that. So, I’m proud of the season, proud of the effort from the team, and looking forward to next year too.”

Larson knows his playoff performance wasn’t up to par, but he’s got his sights set on doing better in 2025. “We’ll hopefully start off strong and carry it on through the playoffs like we did this year,” he said, confident that the team can build on what worked and improve where they fell short.

2025 could be the year Larson finally breaks through and adds another title to his collection. He’s got the speed, the talent, and the support from Hendrick Motorsports to make it happen. It could also be the year he takes down Team Penske’s dominance and even tackles the “double.”

What do you think? Could 2025 be Larson’s year to shine? Share your thoughts in the comments below!