Kyle Larson wasn’t sure he’d ever compete in NASCAR again, and even if he did, he wasn’t sure who would hire him.

Rick Hendrick was the one who took a chance on a driver that many thought was radioactive for sponsors. Larson’s use of a racial slur during an online race in April cost him his job, his reputation, and his ability to attract the corporate sponsors who fund race teams.

Hendrick stated that he would pay for the car personally since he was so confident in Larson’s ability to be rehabilitated after months of self-work.

Larson won his first NASCAR race since returning from a nearly year-long suspension on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Hendrick Motorsports hired him after NASCAR announced that the suspension will be lifted at the start of this season. He only raced in the first four races last season.

“Thanks Mr. H. for believing in me,” Larson radioed to boss Rick Hendrick after crossing the finish line.

He then celebrated his first career win on an intermediate circuit with a series of smoke-filled burnouts, including one on the backstretch for friends watching from a motorhome perched on the hillside above the track. Larson admitted that he grew emotional as he accepted the white flag, but that by the time he finished his burnouts, he had regained his composure.

“I didn’t know if I’d ever have an opportunity to win a NASCAR race again,” said Larson, who again thanked Hendrick for taking “a massive chance on me.”

The victory in Larson’s fourth race with his new team delighted and shocked Hendrick. He expected Larson would need some time to get to know his new crew chief and develop a rhythm in the No. 5 Chevrolet. Because pandemic protocols prevent Larson from practicing, he is learning in real time.

“I didn’t really expect it to come this quick because I really thought it would take time to gel,” Hendrick said by phone after the race. “He’s a champion, really, and I am so lucky to have him.”

One of the first competitors to congratulate Larson was Bubba Wallace, NASCAR’s only Black full-time driver.

“It meant a lot for Bubba to come to victory lane,” Larson said. “He’s always believed in me. That was special.”

Larson’s move to Hendrick was expected to be electric.

Larson is regarded as one of NASCAR’s best drivers, yet he only won six races in six seasons with Chip Ganassi Racing. Everyone expected Larson to finally realize his full potential when he was paired with the powerful Hendrick.

“He got in a great car, he’s a great driver and he’s going to make things happen,” runner-up Brad Keselowski said. “That’s what he does. He’s a wheelman.”

Larson’s victory was the most interesting NASCAR race he’d ever seen, according to Mario Andretti, who lauded Larson for driving “the race of his life” and Hendrick, saying, “Ol’ Rick knew what he was doing when he hired him.”

Hendrick made it two wins in a row with this win. Hendrick has two of its four drivers secured into the playoffs just one month into the new season, thanks to William Byron’s win at Homestead-Miami Speedway last week.

It was crew chief Cliff Daniels’ first victory, and the team’s first since Jimmie Johnson in 2017.

“He knew deep down inside that he could get back to this level,” Daniels said of Larson.

Larson’s last victory was Oct. 6, 2019, at Dover.

The top-nine finishers Sunday all represented NASCAR’s elite teams, with Erik Jones for single-car Richard Petty Motorsports the only surprise with a 10th-place finish.

Brad Keselowski of Team Penske was second in a Ford and followed by hometown driver Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin in Toyotas for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Penske’s Ryan Blaney finished fifth, followed by Martin Truex Jr. and Bell, who put all four JGR cars in the top seven. For Penske, Byron finished eighth while Joey Logano, the defending race winner, finished ninth.

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