Kyle Larson Wins His First NASCAR Cup Series Championship in a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Kyle Larson won his first NASCAR Cup Series Championship driving a Camaro ZL1 1LE for Hendrick Motorsports. Larson won in his first season driving the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE. Larson won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship by winning the Series Finale 500 at Phoenix Raceway, in Arizona. He also won the regular-season championship. Larson won nine other races during the season and led the most laps during the season in NASCAR Cup history.

Kyle Larson’s Emotional Reaction to Winning NASCAR Cup

The 29- year-old was emotional as he discussed the win saying that the possibility of winning hit him as he was riding around the track in a truck during driver introductions before the race. He said he had tears streaming down his face then.

“I cannot believe it,” said Larson after the race. “I didn’t even think I’d be racing a Cup car a year and a half ago. To win a championship is crazy.” Larson was very gracious about his victory, thanking his pit crew and calling them the true champions. He also thanked his team owners and supporters. “I’ve got to say first off thank you so much to Rick Hendrick, Hendrickcars.com, Jeff Gordon, NASCAR, every single one of my supporters in the stands, watching at home, my family. I’ve got so many of my friends and family here. My parents, my sister, my wife and kids.

Huge Win for Chevrolet

“What a great way to finish the season. This is great day,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President of Performance and Motorsports, in a news release. “Congratulations to Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE team on winning the NASCAR Cup Series Championship. Kyle ran consistently up front all year long. The crew executed efficiently in the pits. Cliff and the engineers called the right race strategy throughout the season. Congratulations to Kyle on becoming Chevrolet’s 33rd Cup Series Driver’s Champion.

“We have been proud partners with Rick Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports for over 38 years, and want to also congratulate Rick and the organization on earning their 14th NASCAR Cup Series title.”

Larson is the first driver to win 10 NASCAR races in a season since Team Chevy Jimmie Johnson in 2007. Larson had every reason to be emotional. He was serious about not being sure he would be in NASCAR. He was let go by Chip Ganassi Racing in April of 2020 but was picked up by Hendrick Motorsports for the 2021 season.

Hendrick Motorsports' Winning Legacy

The 2021 title extends Hendrick Motorsports’ series-leading Driver’s Championships to 14. Jimmie Johnson (seven titles), Jeff Gordon (four titles) and Terry Labonte (one title) also won championships for Hendrick.

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing or NASCAR Cup Series returns to competition with the Daytona 500 season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2022.

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Hendrick Motorsports Photo