DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. While the majority of the drivers in the field for Sundays Daytona 500 are getting their season started, Kyle Larson has already won five races.

The driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet has won in three different types of open-wheel, dirt-track cars and he believes racing frequently keeps him sharp. Hes raced more this offseason than in recent years.

Ive done it both ways. Last couple years I havent done much dirt racing in the offseason, he said. Well, yeah, a couple years ago I didnt do any really besides Turkey Night I think. Then Ive had years where I raced a lot, even more than I ran this time.

I dont know. I think it keeps me sharp, for sure. Its not a big deal no matter one way or the other. I just like to race. I kind of like to stay in the rhythm of racing.

Larson had two wins and four top-three finishes in four World of Outlaws sprint car races last week at Volusia Speedway Park.

Ive never gone to Volusia and qualified well, Larson explained. Weve qualified decent, but you cant win from the seventh or eighth row. It was more fun to qualify good, giving ourselves an opportunity to win.

It was a fun week there, the best weve ever had at Volusia. Hopefully it can carry over to this week.

The Daytona 500 is one of a handful of the big NASCAR races that the 2021 Cup Series champion has not won.

Its a big, big race. Everybody in here wants to win the big one, Larson said. I think this is like the last of the big ones that I have left. I think that adds a little bit more to it. Yeah, Im not sure. Just get your season started, too, so its a lot of fun.

But does winning the Daytona 500 define a drivers career? Larsons not so sure.

Im not really sure. I dont know how it feels to them, Larson said during media day. I would imagine Tony Stewart or Kyle Busch is still racing, but I imagine Tony Stewart who doesnt have it doesnt lose sleep.

I think when you look at the style of racing, especially nowadays, how its difficult to win because you do have a lot of good fortune where theres a lot out of your control. I think that helps you sleep at night if you dont win, Larson added. So I dont think it does anything to Tonys legacy whether hes won the Daytona 500 or not. Hes in every Hall of Fame that hes deserving of being in. I dont think it does anything to his career.

Obviously, he would love to have it. Thats probably the same as me, Larson noted. Like, Im not going to lose sleep if I dont ever win this race, but I still want to win the race and have that ring and that trophy and be a part of the names that have won it.

But again, I think theres a lot else, a lot more that goes into winning and a lot of luck. Its not a big deal.