Kyle Larson’s No. 5 Gets Busch’s 2007 Hendrick Throwback
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 11, 2026
Larson throwback scheme
Kyle Larson will take a Kyle Busch tribute paint scheme to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, and the car will lean hard into Busch’s 2007 look. The throwback mirrors the yellow, blue and red Carquest/Kellogg’s design Busch ran that season, only HendrickCars.com will replace the original sponsorship on Larson’s version. The car also will carry the words “Tiny Kyle” above the driver’s door, a nod that ties the tribute directly to Busch and to Larson’s own connection to the No. 5. The project gives Hendrick Motorsports a fresh throwback look while keeping the visual identity rooted in Busch’s stock-car history. Larson’s car is not just borrowing the colors. It is built around a specific era and a specific driver, with the scheme set up to remind fans of one of Busch’s signature cars. That kind of tribute usually does its work fast. The colors tell the story right away, and the added lettering makes the reference impossible to miss. For Larson, the No. 5 Chevrolet becomes a rolling tribute piece, one that blends current sponsorship with a past design that still stands out in memory.
Larson Busch connection
Larson said the tribute meant something because he and Busch share the No. 5 and because he has long respected Busch’s work on the track. He pointed to their battles in stock cars as part of that respect, and he said he looked up to Busch. Larson also said he values the time they have spent around their children at quarter midget races, which gave the relationship another layer beyond competition. He called Busch the best driver he has competed against in stock cars, a strong statement from a driver who has spent years racing at the top level. That view frames the throwback as more than a styling exercise. Larson is honoring a rival he has studied, chased and measured himself against. The tribute also reflects the way Busch has handled life around racing. Larson said he respects the way Busch mentors his son Brexton, a detail that adds family and youth racing to the picture. The result is a tribute built on shared history, racing respect and personal familiarity. Larson thanked HendrickCars.com and the Busch family for allowing the homage, which makes clear that the car is as much about permission and appreciation as it is about paint. It is a public salute, but it comes from a place of direct connection. Larson knows exactly why Busch matters to the No. 5, and he made that case in plain terms.
Busch tribute and charity
The tribute extends beyond Larson’s car. A portion of the merchandise royalties from the scheme will benefit The Samantha & Kyle Busch Bundle of Joy Fund, giving the throwback a charitable tie that reaches past the race weekend. That connection adds another layer to the project, turning a paint scheme into something with a wider impact. Joe Gibbs Racing also plans to honor Busch next weekend at Bristol with a return of the M&Ms scheme on Ty Gibbs’ car, so Busch will be recognized from more than one direction. The twin tributes underline how much presence Busch still has across NASCAR. One team is reviving a classic look on Larson’s car at Las Vegas. Another is bringing back the M&Ms scheme on Ty Gibbs’ car at Bristol. Together, those gestures show a sport still willing to celebrate one of its most recognizable drivers through cars that fans will know at a glance. The timing also gives the recognition a broad reach, with one tribute landing in the West and another following at Bristol. For Busch, the honors connect the past with the present. For Larson, the No. 5 throwback carries the weight of history, the force of a respected rivalry and the backing of a family-approved tribute. The car will do the talking when it hits the track, but the message is already clear. Larson is not just borrowing a look. He is reviving one of Busch’s defining designs and putting it back in front of NASCAR fans with a modern twist.
