Ever watched a plate race at Daytona and wondered why the field looks like a parking lot on I-95? You aren't alone. Kyle Larson, a guy who usually finds speed in a literal dirt patch, is getting vocal about it. He calls it the Daytona gridlock. Basically, the Next Gen car has turned one of the fastest tracks in the world into a high-speed stalemate where nobody can move.
It's frustrating. For the drivers, yeah, but mostly for us watching. We want to see the "Yung Money" high-line heroics, but instead, we're seeing cars stuck in a two-by-two formation like they're in a funeral procession at 190 mph.
What is the Daytona Gridlock Kyle Larson Keeps Talking About?
In August 2025, during a media scrum that got more traction than the actual race for a minute, Larson dropped the G-word. He said there’s "less crazy stuff" happening because you simply get gridlocked.
What does that even mean in a racing context?
Honestly, it’s a physics problem. With the current aero package, the air becomes so turbulent and the lanes so equalized that a third lane just doesn't work. If you try to pull out and make a move, you don't go forward. You go backward. Fast. Larson pointed out that a single car running by itself is sometimes actually faster than the massive "gridlocked" pack because of how much the air is getting churned up.
- The Aero Block: The leading cars can air-block so effectively that the trailing cars are essentially stuck in a pocket of "dirty" air.
- The Two-Lane Trap: Once the field settles into two lines, there is no "energy" left to start a third.
- Fuel Saving: Drivers are now spending 80% of the race at half-throttle to save fuel, which contributes to that "clogged" feeling.
Larson’s take is nuanced. He isn't saying it's easy; he’s saying it’s restrictive. When you’re used to the freedom of a sprint car or the ability to find a line at Homestead, being stuck in the Daytona gridlock feels like wearing a straightjacket.
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Why Larson Struggles with the Gridlock
Look at the stats. Kyle Larson has two Cup Series championships (2021 and 2025). He’s won the Brickyard 400. He’s won the Rolex 24. But he has zero points-paying wins at Daytona or Talladega.
That’s wild for a guy who many consider the best driver in the world.
The problem is that Larson’s greatest strength is his ability to manipulate a car using the "edge." At Daytona, there is no edge. It’s about patience, pushing, and—unfortunately—waiting for someone else to make a mistake. In the 2025 Daytona 500, we saw this play out. Larson was right there, but as the field got gridlocked, he had nowhere to go. When the "Big One" inevitably happened on the final lap, William Byron squeezed through for the win while Larson was left navigating the wreckage of a mid-pack disaster.
He’s admitted that the "crazy stuff" of the past—the frantic 3-wide shuffling—has been replaced by this tactical waiting game. It's a different kind of stress. You're waiting for a gap that never opens.
The 2013 Shadow
You can’t talk about Larson at Daytona without mentioning 2013. That was the year his car literally climbed the catch fence in the Xfinity race. The engine ended up in the fence. A tire went into the stands. It was a miracle everyone survived.
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Some fans think that trauma changed how he races superspeedways. Personally? I don't buy it. Larson has flipped sprint cars on Friday and won NASCAR races on Sunday. The "Daytona gridlock" isn't about fear; it's about the technical limitations of the car. He’s a "rip the fence" guy, and Daytona won't let him rip anything.
Is the Gridlock Ruining the Racing?
NASCAR insiders like Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi have debated this endlessly on The Teardown. Is it "boring" or is it "strategic"?
If you like chess at 200 mph, the gridlock is fascinating. You're watching crew chiefs calculate fuel windows to the milliliter. You’re watching drivers like Denny Hamlin or Joey Logano try to "time" the break in the gridlock. But for the casual fan? It looks like a parade.
Larson's comments hit a nerve because they confirm what we're seeing on the screen. When the 2025 regular-season finale at Daytona ended with a massive wreck that took out playoff hopefuls like Kyle Busch, the finger-pointing started. Some blamed Larson for a bump. Others said it was just the "gridlock" reaching its breaking point. When you can't pass, people get desperate. Desperation leads to junked race cars.
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How to Beat the Daytona Gridlock
So, how does a driver like Larson actually win one of these things if the track is "locked"?
It’s about the "third lane" gamble. In recent races, we’ve seen teams try to coordinate a third line of Fords or Chevys to break the stalemate. The problem is that if one guy in that line loses focus, the whole line collapses.
Larson has shown improvement. He’s been more aggressive in his pushes. He’s staying toward the front to avoid the mid-pack "accordion" effect. But until NASCAR changes the aero or the horsepower—which doesn't look likely for 2026—the gridlock is here to stay.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're heading to Daytona or watching from home, keep these things in mind to actually enjoy the "gridlock" era:
- Watch the tachometer: Note when drivers are lifting. The "saving" phase is when the gridlock is at its peak.
- Track the manufacturers: The only way to break a gridlock is through brand-specific "trains." Watch how the Toyotas or Chevys link up.
- Listen to the radio: The "spotter-driver" dynamic is the only thing that matters in a gridlock. They are the only ones who can see the gaps before they form.
The Daytona gridlock Kyle Larson describes isn't going away. It's the new reality of superspeedway racing. Larson might have two rings, but until he finds a way to pick the lock at Daytona, that Harley J. Earl trophy will remain the one "missing" piece in his Hall of Fame cabinet.
To really understand the gridlock, you have to stop looking for the fastest car and start looking for the smartest pusher. In 2026, the strategy is more important than the horse power. That's just the way it is now.
Check the 2026 NASCAR schedule to see when the next superspeedway showdown happens. Pay close attention to the Stage 2 fuel cycles—that's usually when the "gridlock" starts to feel like a pressure cooker ready to pop.