Rewind your clocks a few years back. The year is 2021. The world was still feeling the effects of COVID-19, Joe Biden became the 46th president, and in the NASCAR world, Kyle Larson was untouchable. Week after week, the No. 5 car seemed glued to the front, slicing through the field with a calm precision that made victory look effortless. Ten wins, a championship, and a reputation as one of NASCAR’s most complete drivers. Now, that was Larson at his peak. His Phoenix triumph that year felt like the beginning of a dynasty, a driver and team in perfect sync.

But the sport has changed since then.

The next-gen car reset the playing field, turning sure-fire dominance into a frustrating puzzle. Wins have become rarer, margins tighter, and championships? Disappeared completely. Yet as the 2025 f

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