CALIFORNIA, USA — Elk Grove native Kyle Larson will compete in the Daytona 500 Sunday, hoping to secure his first win at the track.
He's on the Hendrick Motorsports team and is looking to change his luck at the Daytona International Speedway, a track that is the only NASCAR venue at which he doesn’t even have a top-five finish.
“I do believe that we are much, much better than what we show on paper,” Larson said. “I feel like 90% of the time we’re in the top six to eight at the end of the race, the final 10 laps, then we get caught up in a crash and end up finishing 28th or worse.”
Larson is one of six drivers — and one of four former Cup Series champions — who will try to end double-digit skids in the Daytona 500 Sunday. Larson fell to 0 for 10 in “The Great American Race” last year after getting caught up in a final-lap melee.
“It’s tougher today than it’s ever been,” said three-time Daytona 500 winner and current Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon. “You’ve just got to get yourself in position and be patient.”
Larson, who has started the last two Daytona 500s from the front row, was alongside leader and eventual winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on the second restart in overtime before coming home 18th. He's finished 18th or worse in half of his Daytona 500 starts.
“Eventually it’s got to work out,” Larson said. “We keep putting ourselves in position. I’m confident that we can go out there and win or at least get a good finish and get off to a good start for the year."
Larson isn't alone in the 0-for-Daytona 500 club. Martin Truex Jr. is winless in 19 starts in the 500, Kyle Busch is 0 for 18 in the 500 and Brad Keselowski's winless streak spans 14 Daytona 500. David Ragan (0 for 16) and A.J. Allmendinger (0 for 10) also are on the double-digit list.
Hall of Famers Tony Stewart, Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin are the most notable drivers to never win the Daytona 500.
Watch more on ABC10 | Kyle Larson returns home to a champion's welcome in Elk Grove | Race and Culture
