Without hesitation, Kevin Harvick stated who he thinks should take Chase Elliott’s place as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver. Kyle Larson emerged as the obvious front-runner for the title in a recent episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast. Discussions about Larson’s continuous conflicts with Denny Hamlin, particularly their head-to-head NASCAR Cup Series races, were the subject of the chat. Kyle Larson is currently the most well-liked driver in the Cup Series, according to Kevin Harvick. Harvick mentioned Larson’s intensity and visibility in recent races in addition to his performance on the track. Harvick contended that Larson’s style, pace, and expanding fan base qualified him to succeed Chase Elliott, who has held the title for years.
Although Harvick brought up the seven-time 1-2 matchup between Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson, which also had a significant role in Bristol’s race, a program guest brought up two additional examples with a comparable situation. This includes two races in 2023, at Pocono and Kansas, where he finished third but was still fighting Hamlin for the victory on the last lap. According to Harvick, Larson’s consistent front-running performance is the reason he is currently the sport’s face. “Kyle Larson is currently the most popular driver in the Cup series,” he stated. He wins the most races, sells the most souvenirs, and competes in the most races. He’s working on it. [13:00] One of the seven races that were discussed occurred at Bristol on April 13, 2025. Larson ended a long stretch of second-place finishes to Hamlin in 1-2 results.
Prior to Bristol, Hamlin had won all six of their prior tight races: Dover (2024), Darlington (2021), Richmond (2016), New Hampshire (2017), and Kansas (2023). At Bristol, Larson broke that trend by winning his 31st Cup Series race while leading 251 of 500 laps.
Views of Kevin Harvick regarding Kyle Larson’s homage to Jon Edwards
Larson’s longtime public relations representative, died three days prior to the race. In a race he devoted to Edwards, Larson won at Bristol with the #5 Chevrolet. Many in the NASCAR community, including Kevin Harvick, commended Larson’s gesture, describing it as the ideal approach to pay tribute to someone who had a significant influence.
During his thirty years in NASCAR, Jon Edwards was closely associated with both Larson and Jeff Gordon. Everyone in the sport respected Edwards for his kindness and professionalism, so his unexpected death at age 53 was shocking. The Hendrick team made sure Larson’s presence was felt on race day at Bristol by adding stickers that said “Jon Edwards, One of a Kind” to his vehicle. Kevin Harvick expressed his thoughts on the same topic on his podcast. “He was a big part of our sport,” he said, expressing gratitude for Larson’s gesture. And the way you guys honored someone is the best way to do it. At Bristol, Larson led 411 of 500 laps in what was his second win of 2025. He’s currently fourth in the standings, just one point behind Christopher Bell.
