Legacy and records can wait, Kyle Larson has a NASCAR title to win

CONCORD, N.C. - Go figure, a man whose successes and failures are measured in tenths of a second says he rarely takes a minute to think about history. 

Such is the life of a race car driver. 

But while answering several questions about the significance of what he'd just accomplished, Kyle Larson was forced to at the very least, express his mentality when it comes to his ascension up the ladder of the Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR record books.

Larson turned in one of the most dominant performances in recent memory on Saturday night, leading 462 of 500 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway in setting a new organizational record for laps led in a single event. 

Along the way he swept all three stages and went to victory lane for the second time in the last four fall events at Bristol. 

It was such a short-track stomping, that Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon asked Larson afterword if he planned on breaking all of his records. 

RELATED: Photos from Bristol Motor Speedway

But in the media room, Larson shrugged it off, stating breaking records has never been the plan at all. 

"When I came to Hendrick (Motorsports), I didn't have any goals of beating any records of any of the others, Jimmie (Johnson) or Jeff (Gordon)," Larson explained. "Those are the two guys that probably have most all of the records I would assume. It's not something that I'm reaching for. But when it happens, it's really cool.

"I think whenever I'm done racing or done being a driver at Hendrick Motorsports and those records are still there, then yeah, it'll mean a lot to me. But for right now it's like you're just trying to do a good job, and the records will take care of themselves, I guess."

And they are, whether Larson takes the time to notice or not. 

On Saturday night alone, Larson passed Geoff Bodine, Joey Logano and Ned Jarrett on the all-time, Cup Series laps led list, moving from 26th to 23rd with 9,107. Brad Keselowski is just ahead at 9,382 and even Buddy Baker in 21st at 9,703 would be reachable this season with another performance like Saturday's. 

Larson is also now in the top 30 on the all-time wins list, tied with Carl Edwards and Rex White with 28. With the victory, he broke a tie with teammate William Byron for the most wins in the Next Gen era with 12. He won his 61st and 62nd career stage, moving to within four of all-time leader Martin Truex Jr. He has 22 wins since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, a cool 10 more than Byron in second. 

In 2024 Larson has the most wins (five), the most stage wins (12), is tied for the most top-five finishes (11) and poles (five), has led the most laps (1,550) by 633 over second-place Denny Hamlin and has scored the most stage points with (276). 

Yet, while all of those numbers are impressive, careers in sports are judged by championships. Never, has a NASCAR Cup Series crown been more difficult to win than now. With the current playoff format, one bad week can wipe out a season's worth of work. 

So, as Larson pursues his second title, his focus, and that of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com team, remains on the week-to-week where championships are earned, one race at a time.

And someday, when Larson trades in the cockpit for a rocking chair, that dedication to remaining in the moment will result in a career full of memorable ones to look back on. 

Like Saturday's. 

"We've had the conversations of good and bad along the way," crew chief Cliff Daniels said. "We've seen the ups and downs. We've learned really how to simplify and just stay focused on the mission."

"Every week changes in the playoffs," Larson added. "Just got to keep bringing fast race cars and keep executing like we did tonight, and hopefully more good runs will come."

NASCAR playoff standings after Bristol