Kyle Larson Mocks NASCAR Media For Making His One Year Cup Winless Streak “a Big Deal”  

The defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson has found himself in a pickle in the 2026 season. His last Cup race win came in May 11, 2025 and the Watkins Glen race this week where many doesn’t expect the No:5 Chevy team to win, will mark a one-year winless run. He was able to get away from not winning last year owing to his consistent front row finishes, but this year it has been a different story.

From 11 races so far in the season, the two times champion has secured six top-10 finishes, leading a combined 499 laps. These numbers are impressive for a regular Cup driver, but for an elite racer like Larson, it is concerning. His best finish of the season was the P2 at Kansas Speedway. What’s more concerning is the fact that Hendrick Motorsports has the pace to win, as Chase Elliott has been to victory lane twice in 2026.

During his Watkins Glen media session, the veteran was asked about his winless streak and he had a cold response. He highlighted how the media is making too much of a deal with underwhelming run, and insisted that he isn’t losing sleep over the streak. The veteran pointed out that his struggles show how competitive racing is with the current generation of cars.

I think you guys pay attention to it way more than I pay attention to it. Obviously, I would have loved to have won to this point, but we just haven’t been good enough. I feel like at times we’re really close to getting a win, and then at times I feel like we’re far from getting a win. So, it just kind of shows how tough the series is.

Kyle Larson said during his Saturday media availability at Watkins Glen.

The star driver pointed out that the whole HMS crew is working really hard behind the scenes to get back to the victory lane. Kyle Larson admitted that unlike Chase Elliott, he and his other teammates (Willaim Byron and Alex Bowman) are finding it hard crack the redesigned Chevy. He reiterated that his dominating the last two years cause some fans to think the Cup is too easy for the No:5 team and this year proves it isn’t.

We’re working really hard. I say the same thing every time you guys ask. It’s not like we’re not trying to win. We’re just kind of searching for how to be better, and sometimes maybe search too much, and get off track a little bit. Chase [Elliott] has had a good start to the year, but the rest of us have been kind of off, so we’re trying to work through it. We’ve made the Cup Series look easy at times, and I’ve never thought it was… So, I’m glad that we can show you that it’s not easy.

Kyle Larson added via RACER.com.

Kyle Larson is looking for a finish capable of his prowess at Watkins Glen

Earlier talking about his expectations for the second road course race of the season, the star driver pointed out that he is looking forward to use the modified package from COTA and find some pace. He is confident that they will be able to secure a finish that the No:5 is capable of on Sunday.

Watkins Glen is a place where we’ve had some good speed over the years. We’ll take what we’ve learned earlier this season at [Circuit of The Americas] with this package and apply it to Watkins Glen. Hopefully this weekend will be a place where we get back on track and leave with the kind of finish we know we’re capable of.

Kyle Larson said.

The struggle will most probably continue for the veteran till his team crack the code to succeed with the new Chevy like Chase Elliott. It would be interesting to see how long it will take for the two times champion to end his winless streak, the longest of his HMS career.

Also Read: “I Like People Not Knowing!” Shane van Gisbergen Reveals His Unique Personal Trait