Kyle Larson will remain behind the wheel of the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet through the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, thanks to a one-year contract extension to the current contract that was set to expire upon the conclusion of the 2022 season.
“The chance to extend my contract with Hendrick Motorsports and have such an awesome sponsor in HendrickCars.com are things I don’t take for granted,” Larson said. “I feel like I’m driving for the best team and the best sponsors in the sport. To know that our on-track performance is having positive business influence off the track is very important because I want to return the incredible support they’ve given me. Everyone at Hendrick Automotive Group has made me feel like part of their team, and it’s exciting to be able to represent a company that loves racing like I do. I feel like we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible.”
HendrickCars.com, one of the business holdings of HMS owner Rick Hendrick, will be Larson’s primary sponsor for 35 of the 36 points-paying races for both 2022 and 2023.
“When we perform on the track on Sunday, we can feel the impact on Monday,” Hendrick said. “With the chance to plan for the next two years, the program is only going to help Hendrick Automotive Group sell more cars, book more service appointments and ultimately do more business. It will also allow our company to recruit talented people and support our internal recognition and incentive programs. The more we followed the data, the easier the decision became. We are seeing clear results.”
Larson is in his first season as driver of the #5 Hendrick entry. He leads the series with four wins and is second in points to Denny Hamlin after 21 races.
“It’s been a big year for Kyle,” Hendrick said. “His talent inside the race car has been on full display, and he’s doing amazing things through his foundation and with our partners. I’m proud of his hard work and look forward to having him on our team for many years to come.”
Larson was suspended by NASCAR for most of the 2020 season after he used a racial slur during a live stream of an iRacing event. The suspension also led to Larson being dropped by multiple sponsors and his firing from Chip Ganassi Racing. He was reinstated by NASCAR ahead of the 2021 season.
Prior to the suspension, Larson spent his entire Cup career, that began with four races in 2013 before going full-time the following season, with Ganassi. In 223 races with CGR, he won six times, including four victories in 2017.
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