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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Kyle Larson, driver of the #88 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Suburban Propane 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 11, 2026 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Matt Kelley/Getty Images)

NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson continues to search for his first win of the 2026 season, and the concern around Hendrick Motorsports is growing. Larson has not won a race since Kansas Speedway in May 2025. Even though the No. 5 Chevrolet has shown speed throughout the season, mistakes and poor finishes have stopped the team from returning to Victory Lane.

The pressure increased after Watkins Glen International, where all four Hendrick drivers finished outside the top 20. Larson ended the race in 23rd, the highest finisher among the team’s four cars.

The result became Hendrick Motorsports’ worst road-course showing since 2005 and sparked a fresh debate about whether Larson is in a slump or the problems run deeper within the entire NASCAR team.

Kyle Larson’s Winless Streak Raises Fresh NASCAR Concerns

Kyle Larson remains one of the fastest drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series, but results have not matched the pace. The 2021 Cup champion has won poles, led laps, and stayed competitive in points, yet he still has no victories in 2026.

In the recent episode of PRN Fast Talk, NASCAR insider Brad Gillie defended Larson against criticism and implied that the issues extend beyond the driver.

“I heard all the same things that all of you said about Kyle Larson is Kyle Larson, and that’s just enough. I heard this five years ago with Jimmie Johnson. You think Jimmie Johnson forgot how to drive? You’re an idiot. Shut up, sit down. He’s going to win eight races in a row. I’m not putting Kyle Larson in that category, but I think driver’s slump and team slump. I think this may be more of a team slump than a driver’s slump.”

Gillie compared the current situation to the struggles Jimmie Johnson once faced as a seven-time NASCAR champion. He pointed to the larger performance drop at Hendrick Motorsports instead of blaming Larson alone.

Hendrick Motorsports Struggles Continue in the NASCAR Cup Series

The problems at Hendrick Motorsports have affected more than just Larson. Drivers Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Alex Bowman have also dealt with inconsistent finishes in recent weeks.

The poor result at Watkins Glen became a major warning sign for the organization. Hendrick Motorsports has long been one of NASCAR’s top teams, but the four-car group struggled badly on a track type where the team usually performs well.

Larson has stayed calm publicly during the difficult stretch. He has said the NASCAR Next Gen era creates more parity across the field, making it harder for top teams to dominate every week. Still, the No. 5 team continues to lose races because of late-race issues, strategy mistakes, and missed execution.

Kyle Petty Points to a Double NASCAR Slump for Larson

Former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty believes both Larson and Hendrick Motorsports share responsibility for the current struggles.

“I think it’s a both slump because I don’t think Larson has shown back up, even though he won the championship… When we go back to it, he disappeared when he went to Indy last year. He disappeared from the radar when all the greatness that led up to Indy and everything that happened there and at Charlotte. He just hadn’t been around. He just has not been the Kyle Larson post Indy last year that he has.”

Petty connected Larson’s struggles to his demanding 2025 Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 attempt. Even with the recent problems, Larson remains inside the playoff fight as NASCAR heads deeper into the summer schedule.