Miles The Monster was lit up with blue lights Sunday night, glowing in tribute to the iconic paint scheme of Kyle Larson’s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. It was a fitting celebration for the driver’s second NASCAR Cup Series championship.
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season is in the books, and once again, Kyle Larson stands on top of the stock car racing world. The Californian put together one of the most complete and consistent years of his career, earning the sport’s ultimate prize for the second time. It was a season that showed everything that makes him a great champion: speed, patience, and control under pressure.
A Monster of a Track: Larson at Dover Motor Speedway
Few tracks have showcased Larson’s skill quite like Dover Motor Speedway. In 16 career starts at the Monster Mile, he has earned one win, one pole, eight top-fives--including a fourth-place finish this summer--12 top-10s, and 938 laps led. His averages of 8.7 in qualifying and 8.2 in finishing position speak for themselves.
From his earliest days in the Cup Series, Dover became a place where Larson learned to balance aggression with composure. One of the first sign of his greatness came in the 2016 spring race, when he battled Matt Kenseth in a thrilling late-race duel. Larson’s car was loose, the track was slick, and every lap required precision. At 24-years-old, he showed a race craft that made everyone watching take notice. Kenseth may have won that afternoon, but Larson left Dover with respect and a reputation as one of the sport’s rising stars.
His lone Dover victory came three years later in the 2019 NASCAR Playoffs. It was a defining win that pushed him deeper into title contention and confirmed his place among the elite. Larson started on the front row and took command after a quick pit stop during the Stage 2 break. From there, he pulled away from legends such as Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, and Kevin Harvick, leading 154 laps and building a lead of more than six seconds. It was his first playoff win and his first Miles the Monster trophy, the moment he proved he could finish what he started. Nearly a thousand laps led at Dover since then tell the same story. Larson doesn’t just race the Monster. He tames it.
The Road to a Championship
Larson’s 2025 title wasn’t about one weekend in the desert. It was the result of a year built on discipline and focus. Every lap, every pit stop, and every decision showed how well he and his Hendrick Motorsports team were working together.
That consistency was shaped at tracks like Dover, where success comes only to those who can adapt and stay steady. Week after week, Larson qualified near the front, avoided mistakes, and closed the deal when it counted. Those are the traits of a champion.
By the time the series arrived at Phoenix Raceway for the finale, Larson had already made his case, he just had to finish it out. His strength at demanding tracks like Dover showed he wasn’t just fast, he was complete. When it came time to finish the job, he did.
What It Means for Dover Fans
For fans who have watched Larson battle the Monster for more than a decade, this championship feels special. Dover has always been a test of nerve, a place that rewards precision and punishes small mistakes. Seeing Larson master the same track where he learned some of his toughest lessons is deeply satisfying.
Larson’s results at Dover have always reflected what makes a Cup champion. He has the endurance to last through long runs and the focus to stay sharp when others fade. His success on the concrete has always hinted at something greater, and now that potential has turned into history.
The Final Word
Kyle Larson’s 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship is a story of preparation and perseverance. Dover Motor Speedway, where the Monster has both tested and shaped him, remains a central part of that story.
As Miles The Monster glows blue in his honor, it’s a fitting tribute to a driver who continues to show that greatness in NASCAR isn’t about conquering one race. It’s about proving you can handle everything the season throws at you.
Congratulations to Kyle Larson, 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Champion!
