Kyle Larson will drive the #5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series, beginning in 2021. The race team announced Wednesday it had signed Larson to a multi-year contract.
“Hendrick Motorsports is a championship organization that has set a high bar for performance and for how its drivers represent the team and its partners,” Larson said. “My goal is to win races, be a great teammate, continue my personal efforts to grow, and hold myself to that high standard, personally and professionally. Making the absolute most of this platform and the opportunity in front of me is my focus. I know what’s expected of me and what I expect of myself, on and off the track. Mr. [Rick] Hendrick is one of the people who extended a hand to me over the past six months. Our initial conversations were not about racing. He cares about me as a person and wants to see me succeed beyond driving. I can’t put into words how grateful I am for the commitment, the faith and the confidence from him and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports.”
Hendrick is dropping the #88 from its stable, in favor of a return to the #5, with which team owner Rick Hendrick has a long history. His first entry as a Cup Series car owner carried the #5, and he won the 1996 Cup championship with Terry Labonte as driver of the #5.
Alex Bowman, who has driven the No. 88 since Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired at the end of the 2017 season, will move to the #48, a seat vacated by the retiring Jimmie Johnson.
Larson has been suspended for most of the 2020 season after using a racial slur during a live, online stream of an iRacing event. NASCAR, though, has announced his reinstatement, effective Jan. 1, 2021.
Larson became a full-time Cup Series driver in 2014 for Chip Ganassi Racing and remained with that team until his suspension early this season.
Larson has six-career Cup Series wins, to date, in 223 races. His stats also include 56 top-fives and 101 top-10 finishes. He finished a career-best sixth in the Cup Series driver standings last year.
Larson also has 12 wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and is a two-time NASCAR Truck Series race winner.
“Kyle is, unquestionably, one of the most talented race car drivers in the world,” Hendrick said. “He has championship-level ability and will be a significant addition to our on-track program. More importantly, I have full confidence that he understands our expectations and will be a tremendous ambassador for our team, our partners and NASCAR. Kyle and I have had many, many conversations leading up to today’s announcement. I’m confident about what’s in his heart and his desire to be a champion in all aspects of his life and career. Kyle has done important work over the past six months, and Hendrick Motorsports is going to support those continued efforts.”
