Kyle Larson is confident that a season with ten victories is still within reach. Larson, who is widely regarded as one of the most skilled drivers of his generation, made a remarkable debut with Hendrick Motorsports in 2021 by winning the NASCAR Cup Series title. His dominance was evident as he clinched the championship with ten wins, etching his name in the annals of NASCAR history.
The introduction of the Next-Gen car in the following season brought the field closer together, providing numerous drivers with the opportunity to claim victories. In 2022, a total of 19 different drivers emerged victorious in at least one Cup race, while in 2023, that number decreased to 15. Despite the heightened competition, Larson believes that achieving ten wins is still feasible in the era of the 7th generation car, although it would undoubtedly be more challenging than before.
The reigning champion in 2022 secured the most wins with five triumphs, while the third-place finisher in the championship standings in 2023 had the highest number of victories with six. These drivers have demonstrated that with the right car, they can dominate the field. However, reaching the ten-win milestone can only be accomplished if a racer possesses the fastest car in nearly every race.
During an interview, Larson discussed the difficulties drivers faced during practice and qualifying sessions at Bristol due to the application of resin on the track. He emphasized that these changes would not impact the final race outcome, asserting that it would lead to intense battles among the leading racers to avoid getting caught in lapped car traffic, reminiscent of past races.
Considering Larson’s previous performance at the track, it is highly likely that his prediction will come true. Two-time Cup champion Kyle Busch has also expressed a similar viewpoint, suggesting that the resin will likely cease to be a significant factor after the initial 100-200 laps of the race.