Kyle Larson took a major step toward reclaiming his regular-season form with a third-place finish at the inaugural Anduril 250 on the streets of San Diego.
The No. 5 Chevrolet driver is gathering peak speed at the perfect moment, with four top-five finishes in his last five starts.

What happened in San Diego?

Larson finished third, surviving a treacherous track layout that eliminated multiple heavy hitters like Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch.
He was highly satisfied with the result, saying "A super clean day for us on a challenging track."

Why it matters for Kyle Larson

Larson trails regular-season points leader Tyler Reddick by 180 points with nine races remaining before the playoff cutoff.
But with his recent momentum, he is confident of breaking a historic strong run by rival manufacturer Toyota.

What comes next for Kyle Larson?

Larson's crew chief, Cliff Daniels, shed light on the technical hurdles the team has quietly navigated behind the scenes.
Daniels said the team has been locked into their process, and with new guys coming onto the team, they are getting settled in.
Larson's winless streak has reached 41 races, but Daniels remains confident in the foundation they are building for the playoffs.
The team is treating its recent momentum as a launchpad, prioritizing consistency and execution over short-term panic.
Larson reflected on his performance, saying "We’re definitely finding momentum, and our race cars are getting better."
He added that it's giving him more confidence, and he feels like they're still a bit off from being the best.
Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing have been unstoppable in 2026, winning 12 of the season's first 17 races.
Larson is looking to change that, and with his recent form, he might just do it.
The Anduril 250 was a challenging track, but Larson came out on top with a third-place finish.
He will look to build on this momentum in the coming races, and with his confidence growing, he might just win his next race.
Larson's performance in San Diego was impressive, and he will look to carry this form into the next race.
With nine races remaining before the playoff cutoff, Larson is in a good position to make a push for the top.