Kyle Larson is preparing for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series event at Michigan International Speedway, a venue that holds both triumphs and trials in his career. The Michigan layout has been a personal benchmark since his first Cup Series win in 2016, a moment that still resonates when he walks the frontstretch.
The 2024 season has seen Larson endure a 38‑race winless streak, the longest of his career since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021. Despite the drought, he has remained competitive, notching stage victories and accumulating more stage points than every driver except Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin. He currently sits sixth in the point standings, the highest placement among drivers who have yet to win a race this year.
A Track of Memories
Larson recalls the excitement of his debut win in 2016, a moment that still resonates when he walks the frontstretch. The Michigan layout has become a personal benchmark, a place where he feels a connection to his early successes and where Chevrolet teams last celebrated a victory in August 2017.
Chevrolet's Drought
The Chevrolet camp has not enjoyed a victory at Michigan since that 2017 win, a gap that stretches back to Larson’s own triumph. Ford drivers have dominated the recent MIS races, claiming nine of the last eleven events, adding pressure on Larson’s team to break the trend and restore Chevrolet’s presence in the winner’s circle.
Points Battle
Hendrick Motorsports, Larson’s current organization, has not seen a Michigan win since Jeff Gordon’s 2014 triumph, underscoring the challenge faced by the organization. Nevertheless, Larson’s recent performances have kept the team’s hopes alive, with four stage wins and a strong points position that places him sixth overall, the highest spot among non‑race winners this season.
As the green flag drops, Larson says he is focused on translating his historical affinity for the track into a winning performance. The race offers a chance not only to end his winless streak but also to re‑assert his presence among the series’ elite, a prospect that fuels his motivation heading into the weekend.