Kyle Larson discusses if battling Chase Elliott for regular season championship will hinder any relationships within HMS

Hendrick Motorsports drivers Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson currently occupy the top two positions in the regular season standings, separated by just three points. With five races remaining before the playoffs begin, the battle for the regular season championship is heating up.

The duo have previously contended for the championship in 2021, where Larson secured the title over Elliott in the season finale. With the two HMS drivers embroiled in a battle, Larson was asked about any differences in approach between this competition and their previous fight for the Cup title.

Kyle Larson dismissed any doubts regarding rivalry between the two teams and emphasized that all four Hendrick Motorsports teams strive for a collaborative and supportive environment. He added that the relationship and communication between the two teams haven't been affected.

"I feel like our teams work, all four teams work really well together. All the teammates, drivers still have great communication at meetings and stuff, asking questions back and forth and getting good answers to help each other," he told Bob Pockrass.

Larson, who joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, noted that the relationship among the four teams has remained healthy during his tenure with the team.

"I think that's important when you're trying to continue to grow as an organization. And I feel like Hendrick Motorsports is, at least in my time being there in the [last] three and half seasons, all that's been really well."

Kyle Larson has clinched three victories this season, while Chase Elliott, backed by his consistent string of results leads the standings with one victory. Larson also missed a race during his Indy-Charlotte double and currently trails his teammate by three points.

---

Kyle Larson rues inconsistent results amid tight regular season battle

2021 NASCAR Cup champion, Kyle Larson, emphasized that the fight for the regular season championship is a five-horse battle, including Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and William Byron in the race.

With five left to go, Reddick trails point leader Elliott by 15 points, Hamlin 20 points behind, and Byron 57 points adrift of his HMS teammate. Larson anticipates a closely contested fight for the regular season championship.

"Competing for the regular season championship with Chase, William is honestly not too far out of it as well. I think it's cool, it means our team has done a good job. Then you have Reddick and Denny in there as well. So it's extremely tight at the top," Kyle Larson told Pockrass.

The #5 Chevy driver rues missed points-scoring opportunities but hopes to finish his regular season on a high note.

"We've been a little bit inconsistent lately just with DNFs and stuff, which is a bummer but hopefully we can get to finish out the regular season pretty strong here," he concluded.

Apart from the bragging rights, the regular season champion gets 15 bonus playoff points, with the second receiving 10, and the third eight, trickling down to one point for the 10th-place finisher. Unlike previous years, the regular season ends at Darlington Raceway this season.