Kyle Larson Delivers Stunning Second NASCAR Cup Series Championship

On a day dominated by Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson was up front when it mattered most to secure his second NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Ryan Blaney scored the victory in Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix while Larson finished third, the highest-placed driver in the Championship 4, which featured Hamlin, Larson, Chase Briscoe and William Byron. That distinction earned him the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series title ahead of Hamlin, who finished sixth.

Race Results: NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix

While Larson lifted the championship trophy, the day largely belonged to Hamlin. The 60-time race winner in NASCAR's premier series, seeking his first title, led 208 of the race's 319 laps. He also led with the checkered flag looming in the horizon, stretching out an advantage over Byron.

However, a flat tire for Byron sent the race to overtime. Under the caution, Hamlin took four tires, while several competitors restarted ahead of him on two tires. Hamlin fought his way back to sixth, but it wasn't enough to chase down Larson, one of the drivers who took two tires.

On a day when he never led a lap, Larson stood victorious as champion.

"We did the best job we could," said Larson on NBC following the race. "Really, I can't believe it. We didn't lead a lap today and somehow won the championship.

"I'm just speechless. I can't believe it. We had an average car, at best. We had the right-front go down and lost a lap. Got saved by a caution and did the wave-around. It was really bad that run."

An earlier stint on two tires gave Larson confidence that a two-tire call with the race on the line could pay dividends.

"We took two tires, and I was like, oh God, here we go. We're going to go to the back now. It had a lot more grip than I anticipated. We got lucky with that final caution there. I was really hoping we were going to take two there, because I felt like I learned a lot. I restarted bombing one and two really hard, and I thought I could do the same thing if we got another one.

"What a year by this Hendrick Motorsports team. Cliff Daniels, everybody, his leadership, his complete leadership just showed that whole race. Keeping us all motivated, always having a plan, just all of that. It's just the story of our season."

As the celebration began for Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team, a stunned and defeated Hamlin reflected on a day where everything went perfectly until it didn't.

"There's nothing I can do different," said Hamlin. "Prepared as good as I could coming into the weekend. My team gave me a fantastic car. Just didn't work out.

"I was just praying for no caution. We had one there. What can you do? It's not meant to be."

Even with the benefit of hindsight, Hamlin defended the decision to take four tires under the final caution.

"I thought I was still okay," said Hamlin. "We took four tires, and I thought that was definitely the right call. Just so many cars took two there, and obviously put us back. The team did a fantastic job. They prepared a championship car. It just didn't happen."

For the 44-year-old Hamlin, he hopes to get another shot at the elusive NASCAR Cup Series Championship, but doesn't know if he'll have a better opportunity than Sunday.

"I've got a couple more shots at it. If you can't win that one, I don't know which one you can win."

Lost in the championship conversation was a thrilling battle to the checkered flag, as Ryan Blaney narrowly crossed the finish line ahead of Brad Keselowski. With a last-corner pass, Blaney earned his fourth win of the 2025 season.

"We were good all day," said Blaney. "I just couldn't fire on restarts very good. Some of those guys were way better than me. I just had to kind of give way and hoped it would come back to me.

"The last restart, Jonathan [Hassler, crew chief] made a good call, putting two on it. I just tried to back up three and wrap the bottom. I had enough drive to get around Brad at the finish line.

"Obviously, we would have liked to have been in the championship. Our goal this weekend was to just go and try to win the race, you know, and end on a high note. We did the best we can. So proud of the 12 group for doing what they do."

While Byron was happy for his Hendrick Motorsports teammate's championship triumph, he couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment and responsibility for bringing out the caution that turned the championship picture on its head.

"I hate it for Denny and I hate it for the 11 team," said Byron. "I'm happy for Kyle and happy for Mr. Hendrick. They deserve it. It stinks, right? It's just three laps to go, and I'm thinking, okay, let me just get to the end. I felt something funny off of two and thought it might be a flat.

"I thought at the time, if it's left-rear, you can kind of get back [to pit road]. It just went straight into three. It laid down on the right rear and went straight. I hate that."

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season begins with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, a non-points exhibition on Sunday, February 1. The points-paying season begins on Sunday, February 15 with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

-Photo credit: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images