| Full Name | Kyle Larson |
| Date of Birth | July 28, 1992 |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5'6" |
| Role | Driver |
Kyle Larson returns to the Cup Series, joining Hendrick Motorsports as the No. 5 Camaro driver. That car number is returning to competition after years in mothballs. The No. 5 was the first used by Rick Hendrick. With Alex Bowman taking over the No. 48 for the retired Jimmie Johnson, his No. 88, previously piloted by Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., was retired and the ‘5’ taken out of mothballs.
Larson began racing carts at the age of seven, winning the first of several points championships. At 14, he began racing sprint cars and became the youngest winner in California history to win at Placerville Speedway in the Civil War Series, just four days after his 15th birthday. Larson is one of only two drivers to win in each USAC (United States Auto Club) car in the same year at the 4-Crown Nationals.
One of the most talented drivers to come out of a development system, Larson has won at every NASCAR level of competition, including the Weathertech SportsCar Championship on the Daytona Road Course in 2015.
In the K&N Pro Series West, his only start resulted in a victory and added two more in the East Series plus a dozen top-tens in 14 events. After a brief stop in ARCA Menards (one win in three starts), he lit it up in the Camping World Truck Series with ten top-ten finishes in 13 events to go along with a pair of checkered flags.
Larson’s stay in the Xfinity Series was just as impressive. Always around the end, he found the winner's circle every year except his rookie campaign, scoring a career-best four in only six tries in 2018. Overall, he had a dozen, 51 top-five and 75 top-ten finishes in 108 races.
Once in the Cup Series, he made the playoffs four straight seasons (2016-19).
Larson started just four races in 2020, all before NASCAR shut down due to COVID-19. As many Premier Series drivers did during time away from the track, they competed in iRacing events. Larson did the same but uttered a racial epithet during a live show that got him suspended by team owner Chip Ganassi and NASCAR. Ganassi ultimately severed ties with him.
No one knew if Larson’s NASCAR was over. Series officials mandated he attend sensitivity training and make a sincere apology if a return was even possible. He did what was required and applied for reinstatement. Meanwhile, rumors were flying that he would get a contract offer from one of the more prominent teams if he got the green light. NASCAR reinstated Larson, conditionally, and not long after he inked a multi-year contract with HMS.
Larson successfully competed in the World of Outlaws during his time away and kicked off the 2021 campaign repeating as the Chili Bowl Nationals champion.
2011 Belleville Midget Nationals Champion
2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Champion
2012, 2016, 2019 Turkey Night Grand Prix Winner
2013 UNOH Battle at the Beach All-American Winner
2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona Overall Winner
2016 Sprint Showdown Winner
2016 Aspen Dental Eldora Dirt Derby Winner
2019 Monster Energy Open Winner
2019 Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race Winner
2020, 2021 Chili Bowl Nationals Champion
2020 Indiana Midget Week winner
2020 Pennsylvania Speedweeks winner
2020 Hoosier Hundred winner
2011 USAC Silver Crown Rookie of the Year
2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Rookie of the Year
2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year
2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year
Kyle Miyata Larson was born on July 28, 1992, in Elk Grove, California, and currently resides in Mooresville, NC. He is married to Katelyn Sweet [Larson], the sister of World of Outlaws racer Brad Sweet, who has also raced in the ARCA Menards, Truck, and Xfinity Series’. Kyle and Katelyn have one child, a boy named Owen. His hobbies include golf, racing just about anything with four wheels, and being a dad.
