Jeff Gordon comments on how Kyle Larson’s playoff waiver uncertainty affected team before Sonoma

While other teams would have let the waiver issue get in their heads, Jeff Gordon didn’t see that from the No. 5 team. Kyle Larson never let the NASCAR decision cloud his judgment or upset him too much.

Before this week began, Larson didn’t know if he would be playoff-eligible this season. Now, he’s not only eligible, but he has his third win of the year and is ready to do more by the looks of it.

Together with Cliff Daniels, Larson has the car, strategy, and the talent to win anywhere at any time. Jeff Gordon was happy to see the whole team come together for the win and never saw them “waver,” no pun intended.

“Yeah, I didn’t see it affect the the majority of the team. I think it was on the minds of Cliff [Daniels] and Kyle and Rick [Hendrick] and Jeff Andrews and myself and Chad [Knaus], at that level, maybe on the PR/media side of things. But as far as how that trickled down the team, I didn’t see where they were really wavered by it.

“But no, they seemed to be business as usual and prepping for the next race, the next two races, the way they normally do.I think the best medicine in any of those situations is getting back to the racetrack. Especially when they got here, home track for Kyle, and I think a track that they enjoy racing at, and a lot of the competitors do.

“I think that put a lot of that to rest.”

Another great day to be Hendrick Motorsports.

Kyle Larson taking the points lead

Kyle Larson is set to take the points lead now from Denny Hamlin with the win. It felt like this team was going to be pushed into the gutter two weeks ago. Everyone was going to write them off without that waiver.

Now, another win in their pocket along with that waiver from NASCAR – it’s smooth sailing. At this point, Larson is the favorite. He is the favorite for the regular season and the playoff championship. This season feels familiar to that 2021 season.

Larson won at Vegas in 2021 and in 2024. He’s got a win at Kansas, just like 2021, and now Sonoma – also like 2021. In Nashville two weeks from now, he has a chance to pick up another familiar win from 2021.

Today Kyle Larson showed off that patented cool and calm demeanor. He had no idea how the pit strategy would play out. All he did was trust in his team and get the win. And that is all that his team asks him to do.