Kyle Larson’s long-standing dominance may be fading. For much of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series, Hendrick Motorsports has relied on the firepower of its star drivers. Larson, a past champion and perennial contender, entered the season with strong momentum. Meanwhile, teammate William Byron bolstered his reputation by winning back-to-back Daytona 500s. Yet, as the postseason unfolds, cracks have emerged in Hendrick’s championship picture. So much so that insider analysis now hints that the balance of power within the team could be shifting in an unexpected direction.

The early rounds of the playoffs have only reinforced these questions. Larson, once known for his “ground-pounding speed,” has struggled to maintain his edge, leaving races where he was once a favorite without the pace expected of a title threat. Byron, meanwhile, has shown flashes of form despite inconsistency, with Harvick stressing that mistakes could ultimately decide the battle. His remarks suggest that the weight of Hendrick’s championship hopes may not rest where most anticipated at the start of the year. While Harvick still endorses an HMS NASCAR Cup Series driver, Larson isn’t that name.

Harvick’s NASCAR Cup Series verdict

On Tuesday, September 23rd’s episode of the Happy Hour podcast, Harvick did not hold back about Larson’s current form. “I still don’t see the same speed and dominant car out of that 5 car that we saw at the beginning of the year and that we’ve seen last year. I think Kansas should tell a good story” he said, highlighting Larson’s loss of early-season momentum.

He contrasted this with Byron, whose No. 24 car he described as “consistently better” and showing signs of life. “I’m more impressed with the 24 car, to be honest, as far as their consistency of speed, and I think they’ve been better than the 5. So, still don’t see it out of the 5, but the 24 tends to. I tend to lean towards thinking that they have a little bit of life with how close they are now.” The assessment signals Harvick’s growing confidence in Byron as a championship contender over Larson.

While Kyle Larson remains a proven talent, Harvick’s analysis points to Byron as the driver with momentum, consistency, and team alignment to carry the HMS banner deep into the playoffs. If Byron maintains form and avoids costly mistakes, he could emerge as Hendrick’s new face of championship contention.

Kevin Harvick Praises Penske After NHMS Weekend

Kevin Harvick didn’t hold back when talking about Team Penske’s performance at New Hampshire. The veteran driver and analyst highlighted how the yellow cars reasserted themselves after a slow start to the season. On his podcast, he praised two drivers and the strategic test sessions that helped turn things around. “It just seems like you can never count them out at this time of year. We’ve seen it multiple years in a row now,” Harvick said, setting the tone for just how formidable Penske looked.

Harvick gave special credit to Joey Logano for his role in preparing the team. “A guy like Joey Logano, there’s not very many of them that can go do stuff like that, but he’s dug them out of a hole,” he said. Logano’s work at North Wilkesboro and during test sessions helped Penske fine-tune setups. These translated into fast practice laps and a pole-winning performance at Loudon. Harvick emphasized that taking the right driver to the test can make all the difference in performance.

The NHMS race itself confirmed the payoff from those efforts. “They show back up. All the Penske cars are fast on the pole, on the front row. Josh Berry, Ryan Blaney, (and) Joey Logano leading laps,” Harvick noted. While Blaney hadn’t always turned speed into top finishes, Harvick highlighted his consistency. The combination of veteran leadership and raw speed made the Penske cars impossible to ignore.

Harvick summed up the weekend by praising the team’s timing and execution. “Look, you haven’t seen the Penske cars. Penske cars were awful to start the season. … But it was lights out this weekend from the time those cars rolled off pit road for the 12,” he said. With Logano’s pole, Blaney’s consistent pace, and the overall speed of the yellow cars, Harvick suggested that Penske is now fully back in contention, demonstrating that experience, preparation, and strategic testing remain key to championship success.