“The record books won’t talk about it”: Jeff Gordon candidly reveals why Kyle Larson’s 2025 title felt different inside the Hendrick Motorsports shop 

2025 was the year of the "5," with Kyle Larson locking in his second Cup title and pushing Hendrick Motorsports to a historic 15th NASCAR championship.

Now, with the 2026 Daytona 500 on the horizon, Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon is reflecting on that run. The NASCAR legend admitted he’s still processing the victory as the No. 5 crew that refused to break even when the odds were stacked against them. He said (via Hendrickmotorsports.com):

"Being around the shop in meetings and interacting with the crew chiefs, teams and drivers you realize how bad they want it, how hard they're working just to get to Phoenix,.Then, when you see them pull that off, that's what pulls me in - the trust and belief and excitement and nervousness you have for them. I definitely felt that throughout the whole weekend"

Furthermore, Jeff Gordon said:

"The record books years from now won't talk about any of that, it'll be that we won our 15th championship.. I think right now, where I am is just incredibly proud of knowing we put ourselves in that position. Our folks worked extremely hard and they did it."

While JGR driver Denny Hamlin was poised to lift his maiden title, a last-minute pit call changed the game for the two archrivals at Phoenix. The No.11 team took four tires, whereas Larson's crew chief wanted two.

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"I want him to win 10": Jeff Gordon shares his expectation for Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson - NASCAR Cup Series Championship - Source: Imagn

Following Kyle Larson’s 2025 championship win in Phoenix, Jeff Gordon didn't hold back on his expectations for the No. 5 driver. The four-time champion and Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman revealed that he wants to see the Elk Grove native reach a double-digit title count.

He said (via NASCAR.com):

"I've known Kyle for many, many years, watching him race sprint cars, and I always knew that if you can put him behind the wheel of a Hendrick Motorsports car, he'd do special things,” Jeff Gordon said of Larson. “I also believe that records and championships, they're made to be broken. As long as he's on our team, I want him to win 10," said Jeff Gordon.

Kyle Larson isn’t letting his second Cup Series title slow him down. Fresh off a dominant trip to Australia, the Hendrick Motorsports star went back-to-back at the High Limit International in Perth, pocketing a record-breaking $110,000 prize. But there’s no rest for the champion. Larson has already touched back down in Oklahoma for the Tulsa Shootout, before shifting his sights to the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals

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Edited by Sashwat Deo