CONCORD, N.C. -- Kyle Larson wants to do more than win races this season. Hendrick Motorsports’ newest driver is ready jump in his No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE this season with his new crew and to grow with them on and off the track.
Larson has been ramping up his work with his teammates over the past few weeks and is impressed with crew chief Cliff Daniels and his attention to detail.
“Our chemistry is great so far,” Larson said. “He’s been to a handful of my dirt races throughout the offseason. We did some team building stuff last week or two weeks ago with the team – the pit crew and everybody.
"It’s good to get to know everybody and finally get to see everyone on my team without their masks on, socially distanced in a big conference center close to the race shop. It was good and I look forward to building an even better friendship with everybody on the team.”
Larson was announced as the driver of Hendrick Motorsports’ flagship No. 5 Chevrolet on Oct. 28. He impressed team owner Rick Hendrick with his work on and off the track, which helped lead to his signing.
“I think with the success I had in the dirt stuff last year, winning 46 times, I’d like to be able to come back to NASCAR, be with an amazing organization that just won the championship, go out there and be strong and win a lot of races,” Larson said.
He added how grateful he was to Hendrick and that he will do what he can to be successful for the organization and his sponsors. Larson’s first test will be this week in Daytona Beach, Florida. The 28 year old will take to the track for the first time in nearly a year when he lines up for the Duels on Thursday. He’ll then gear up for the DAYTONA 500 three days later.
“I’m just really excited. I feel like time has flown by for me up until these last two or three weeks,” Larson said. “It’s been so long since I’ve been in a Cup car. Now that I’m with a great team, there’s just a lot that I’m excited about. I’m excited to get on track, get racing and competing, and getting to work with a bunch of new guys.”
Thursday’s Duels will begin at 7 p.m. ET on FS1. The DAYTONA 500 will begin Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.