SVG Heaps Praise on Kyle Larson’s Aggressive Roval Run

SVG couldn’t deny the fair racing: “And you know, I guess when I got to him (Kyle Larson) at the end, there he kind of gave up and just said, ‘Alright, it’s time to go,’ and then you know they came up with another strategy just in case the yellow came out. So yeah, the races here are—yeah, there’s always something happening. But I like racing the top guys here. They’re very, very good.”

This is the kind of racing fans hope for—fair, just, and respectful, with drivers who have a mutual understanding. This very well could mark Kyle Larson’s return amid the slump he has been in. Although SVG wasn’t in the playoff picture anymore, he made sure not to pull a Ty Gibbs (Hamlin-Gibbs fallout at New Hampshire) on Kyle Larson, who is a playoff driver.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver couldn’t help but return the compliments. Speaking to Bob Pockrass, reflecting on the Turn 7 move, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion said, “And then he bombed it in on 7 and drove right into the side of me. I was like, alright, well, I’m going to hit you a couple of times here now. Yeah, it kind of brought Bell back in the mix a bit, and then yeah, once he got back to second, I was like, alright, I’m done being crazy here because I feel like that point we were even, and I didn’t want to get where he owed me again.”

Larson’s P2 finish was enough for him to make it to the Round of 8. Even though SVG stole the spotlight with his win, inching closer to Jeff Gordon’s record on road courses, Larson’s Round of 12 ended with a bang. Kyle Larson rolled into Charlotte Motor Speedway sitting comfortably, 54 points clear of the elimination line and needing only a steady stage one finish to secure his ticket to the next playoff round.

Amid HMS’ Jeff Gordon admitting the uphill playoff battle, the 33-year-old driver heads to Las Vegas with a smile, determined to claim his second title.

How do Kyle Larson’s chances look in the Round of 8?

Next up for the No. 5 team is a diverse trio of battlegrounds—Las Vegas, Talladega, and Martinsville—each demanding a different brand of mastery. While Talladega’s chaos remains a wildcard, Larson’s skill set shines on both Vegas’s wide-open streets and Martinsville’s tight bullring corners.

Larson and Vegas have history. He has scored three wins there in his career and carries a career average finish of 9.3, the best among active drivers at the circuit. In the 2025 season, Larson continues to lean on his Las Vegas form, where he began the Pennzoil 400 in 10th and led most laps in that race. His prior Vegas history also includes dominant runs, including a strong performance in 2024, where he led 181 laps en route to victory.

However, Martinsville has often been a tougher track for Larson compared to his dominance at intermediate tracks. A string of crashes and bad luck has knocked him out on several occasions in the playoff runs, and mechanical or contact issues have cropped up when aggressive moves are required on the tight layout. However, Larson had a breakthrough with his 1st Cup Series victory at Martinsville in April 2023.

On the other hand, Talladega is volatile and unforgiving. Larson’s history there reflects the ups and downs of superspeedway racing. His average finish at Talladega is 22.8, suggesting a lot of finishes outside the top 10, crashes, or being taken out of contention. However, this year, he placed second at Talladega, showcasing that he can contend when the cards fall his way.

However, his Charlotte milestone adds yet another feather to Larson’s cap. It is now his fourth Round of 8 appearance in the past five seasons and the fifth in nine playoff campaigns.

With three straight years of advancing deep into the playoffs, Larson has proven time and again that he is built for high-pressure moments. With his 2021 championship still fresh in fans’ minds, Larson now eyes another run at NASCAR’s ultimate prize, the coveted spot in the Championship 4.