CHARLOTTE, N.C. — At Hendrick Motorsports, there’s a cherished tradition where victorious drivers celebrate by ringing a special bell, allowing every team member who contributed to the win to join in the celebration. Recently, Kyle Larson took part in this ritual after a commanding victory at Bristol Motor Speedway. Accompanied by crew chief Cliff Daniels and Jeff Gordon, the team’s vice chairman, Larson made his way through the motorsports campus. Employees gathered in the fabrication shop, followed by the engine department, and finally the merchandise store, all eager to ring the bell in celebration of Larson’s success.

The stop in the merchandise store was a spontaneous decision, as a Hendrick Automotive Group leadership summit was simultaneously taking place nearby. Sensing an opportunity, Gordon invited young fans present in the store to come up and ring the bell too. Afterward, the trio headed to the leadership summit for a brief talk about the significance of effective communication with several hundred dealership executives. Larson received a heartfelt standing ovation upon entering the auditorium, and one enthusiastic executive rang a pair of smaller bells on the table to join in the applause.

That day’s ceremony marked Larson’s 22nd win since joining Hendrick in 2021. Just four days later, he secured another victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway. While sitting in director chairs before the audience, Gordon remarked that although Larson has only been part of the team for four seasons, it’s hard to remember a time when he wasn’t driving for them. Larson quickly found his place after spending over seven seasons with Chip Ganassi Racing, which initially introduced him to NASCAR after his career in sprint car racing. His journey took a downturn early in the pandemic when he was dismissed after using a racial slur during an iRacing event, causing NASCAR to suspend him for the remainder of the season. After being reinstated, Rick Hendrick offered him a spot in the No. 5 Chevrolet, and since then, the team has seen remarkable success.

In their first season together, Larson and Daniels set numerous records, achieving ten victories and securing Larson’s first championship title. The success can be attributed to effective communication and Daniels’ firm yet supportive approach—qualities reminiscent of Hendrick’s Hall of Fame crew chief Chad Knaus, who led Jimmie Johnson to seven championships. Daniels expressed gratitude for the evolution of their partnership, emphasizing the importance of mutual trust and communication both on race day and within the team.

Despite leading the Cup series with six wins, Larson and Daniels now find themselves striving to keep their championship hopes alive. Initially, all four Hendrick cars advanced to the round of eight, but Alex Bowman was disqualified after failing post-race inspection at the Charlotte elimination race won by Larson. Currently, Larson must secure another victory to have a chance at competing for a second title. Joey Logano, now occupying Bowman’s spot in the round of eight, along with Tyler Reddick, has already qualified for the championship race. Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing and Larson’s teammate William Byron head into the Martinsville Speedway race above the cutline, while Larson is seven points below it.

Although Larson doesn’t necessarily need to win at Martinsville to advance, it is his best guaranteed path. Advancing without a victory would require misfortune to affect either Bell or Byron. Larson’s season has been a roller-coaster despite his six wins, including six finishes of 30th place or worse, and he has only managed two consecutive top-10 finishes at any point this season. He also narrowly missed claiming the regular-season championship by just one point, after being sidelined during the Coca-Cola 600 due to rain at the Indianapolis 500. However, he has impressed during the playoffs by winning the elimination race in the first two rounds.

“I’m proud of our team for how we’ve rebounded through so much adversity throughout these playoffs,” Larson noted. “I think there probably hasn’t been a team that’s dealt with as much as we have and been able to still be in the hunt to make the final four.”