Jeff Gordon Stunned by Kyle Larsonâs Miami Masterclass as Hendrick Motorsports Dominates
Kyle Larsonâs jaw-dropping victory at the Homestead Miami Speedway has sent shockwaves through NASCAR, and no one was more captivated than Jeff Gordon, the legendary vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports. In a race that unfolded like a Hollywood blockbuster, Larson snatched the win from teammate Alex Bowman with just seven laps to go, claiming his 30th career NASCAR Cup Series triumph and his second at Homestead. The Straight Talk Wireless 400 on March 26, 2025, wasnât just another winâit propelled Larson closer to becoming Hendrickâs third-winningest driver, trailing only Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. Gordon, watching from the pits, broke his silence post-race, delivering a candid take that left fans and insiders buzzing.

Larsonâs path to victory was anything but smooth. Starting 14th, he battled early setbacks, including a pit-road collision with Josh Berryâs No. 21 Ford that punched a gaping hole in his carâs side. Crew chief Cliff Daniels gambled by keeping Larson on the track rather than pitting for repairs, a decision that paid off as Larson clawed his way to the front. âI got in the wall too many times,â Larson admitted, reflecting on his high-line heroics. âBut I kept plugging away. This is one heck of a drive.â His margin of victoryâ1.205 seconds over Bowmanâunderscored his resilience, with Bubba Wallace, Chase Briscoe, and Denny Hamlin rounding out the top five.

Gordon, a 93-time Cup winner, couldnât hide his awe. Perched on Bowmanâs No. 48 pit box, he watched Larsonâs late-race surge unfold. âYou just canât count out Kyle Larson, especially at this place,â Gordon said, praising Larsonâs fearless wall-riding style. âHis car doesnât fall off when he puts it up on the fence. Itâs like watching him at Knoxville or Eldora.â The comparison to Larsonâs dirt-track mastery highlighted what makes him a standout at Homestead, where precision near the wall can make or break a race. Gordonâs insight added weight to Larsonâs triumph, especially given the obstaclesâdamaged car, poor restarts, and all.

Bowman, meanwhile, was left ruing a golden opportunity. Leading 43 laps from pole, he held off challengers until a costly scrape with the wall in Turn 4 opened the door for Larson. âI choked that one away,â Bowman confessed. âI hit the fence pretty bad and lost the feel in the right front.â Despite the heartbreak, Gordon saw promise in Bowmanâs season-long progress, noting his teamâs momentum since late 2024. âThey were in the top five all day, contending at the end. That does a lot for a race team,â he said.
The race wasnât Larsonâs only headline. After winning Fridayâs Craftsman Truck Series race and finishing fourth in Saturdayâs Xfinity Series event, he narrowly missed a rare triple-header sweepâlast achieved by Kyle Busch at Bristol. âHeâs deserving of it,â Gordon said of Larsonâs near-miss, underscoring the weekendâs intensity.
Hendrick Motorsportsâ dominance shone through, with William Byron, Larson, and Bowman sitting 1-2-3 in the standings, and Chase Elliott in sixth. Yet, Larson remained humble: âNone of us are the best car yet. Thereâs work to do.â As Ryan Blaneyâs engine failure after leading 124 laps added drama, Larsonâs win stole the spotlight. Gordonâs stunned reaction said it allâthis was a race for the ages, and Larsonâs star is only rising.