Kyle Larson outright denied that he is facing a slump in his NASCAR career, especially given how the 2026 season has been going for him, with no Cup Series victory yet.

The Hendrick Motorsports pilot sits sixth in the standings, which wouldn't seem like a pressing issue for many drivers, but for the reigning champion, it is a notable doubt. However, it's not so in his mind.

“I don't really feel like we're in a slump at the moment,” Larson told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “I don't feel bummed or sad or anything of that nature that we haven't won in over a year now because we have been consistent, always could be more consistent, and I think that's an area that I've strived to get better at.”

The No. 5 HMS team has shown it remains competitive, with Larson leading the Cup Series in stage points this season. But the 39-race winless streak? It isn't entirely down to his lack of competitiveness.

“I just think that we've had less opportunities to win just because the Gibbs, the Toyota cars are so fast. But I feel like, man, we're doing a good job with what we have, and we're sixth in points. Sure, I want to be winning right now and all of that, but I'm not gonna stress myself out about it either because I understand that there's still work to be done,” Kyle Larson added.

The two-time Cup Series champion seems mentally determined to get a win soon this season. But how true is his reasoning about the Toyota vs Chevy battle? Let's find out.

Chevrolet Has Multiple Winners in 2026, Just Not Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson pointed out that JGR’s Toyota outperforming the rest of the grid is the reason why he hasn't won yet. However, results from across the Chevy camp show us that this might not be as big an issue.

In fact, Chevy drivers have racked up five wins this season compared to Toyota's nine. Take Larson's HMS teammate Chase Elliott, who won at Texas and Bristol, or Shane van Gisbergen, who won at The Glen.

Even Daniel Suarez conquered the top of the podium in the rain-hit Coca-Cola 600, and finally, Carson Hocevar scored his first Cup Series victory at Talladega in his Spire Motorsports Chevy.

Even in championship contention, Chevy remains competitive, with Elliott, William Byron, and Ross Chastain all in contention. This showcases to us that the drought that Kyle Larson faces is not one entirely due to manufacturer issues, but instead one that partly stems from some bigger issues with the No. 5 team.

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Written by

Uday Jakhar

Edited by

Yash Kotak