Hendrick Motorsports Re-Signs 2021 Nascar Champion Kyle Larson To Multi-Year Deal

Kyle Larson, the 2021 Nascar Cup Series champion, will remain at Hendrick Motorsports through at least 2026, the team announced on Friday.

Larson, who is battling for his second straight championship, will be sponsored by HendrickCars.com in 35 races in each season, making it one of the only partnerships to extend over 30 races a year. The contract extension for both the driver and sponsor comes as HendrickCars.com reported “a year-over-year increase in organic traffic for HendrickCars.com and double-digit increases in conversions, vehicle leads, online customer interactions, trade evaluations, and employment applications.”

The 30-year-old racer joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2021 after spending his first eight Cup Series seasons with Chip Ganassi Racing. Larson was suspended by Nascar and subsequently fired in April of 2020 from CGR after uttering a racial slur during a live stream of a virtual race in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Larson went through Nascar’s reinstatement program. Not only did he complete diversity training, but he went above and beyond to repent for what he called “the mistake.”

He deactivated his social media accounts and focused on repenting for his mistake, meeting with Black leaders like Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee, ex-soccer player Tony Sanneh and more.

“I’m very thankful for this second chance and wanted to take advantage of it as best as I could,” Larson said in November after his championship win. “I lost a lot of hope about making it back, and I didn’t know what the meeting was going to be about. I had thoughts of what it would be about, and it was ultimately what I thought it was going to be.”

Larson started his charity by announcing a Drive for 5 program, which raised more than $500,000 last year to support students with scholarships at the racing school. Additionally, he set out to provide meals for five families each day with The Sanneh Foundation and to support five needy communities with Hendrick Cares school grants.

Now, the California native is focused on his future with Hendrick Motorsports, serving as a role model for those who get second chances.

“I can’t explain how much this opportunity means,” Larson said in a statement on Friday. “The chance to compete for the top team and best sponsors in racing is something every driver dreams about. I’m humbled to have incredible people in my corner and amazing support from so many fans.

“Thanks to everyone at Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group for believing in me, Cliff [Daniels, crew chief] and our team. Even though we’ve done some great things so far, I truly believe our best is ahead of us.”

Team owner Rick Hendrick echoed Larson’s comments, saying, “expectations were sky high” from the start of this relationship.

“To say he’s exceeded them would be an understatement,” Hendrick said. “Not only has Kyle proven himself as a champion driver, he’s performed at a championship level outside of the race car. We’re proud to continue our relationship and to see him represent our team and our brands in such positive ways. The years to come are very bright.”

Larson has two wins in the Nascar Cup Series this year, along with an Xfinity Series triumph at Watkins Glen.

With seven races remaining in the 2022 season, Larson is determined to win his second straight championship. If he can win it all, he will be the first Cup Series driver since Jimmie Johnson to win back-to-back championships.