The South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway delivered high tension on October 13, 2025, as Kyle Larson saw his NASCAR Championship hopes falter in the closing laps, making the Kyle Larson NASCAR Vegas loss a pivotal story in this year’s playoffs. With only four laps remaining, Denny Hamlin surged ahead on fresher tires to secure victory, earning a guaranteed spot in the Championship 4 and sending a clear signal to his competitors.
In a race that kept fans and drivers on edge, Chase Briscoe held a slender advantage over Larson before Hamlin’s decisive move. As Hamlin took the lead, Larson settled for second place behind JGR’s No. 11 car, finishing 1.533 seconds back, with Christopher Bell taking third after passing Briscoe late in the race. The dramatic finish not only shifted the playoff picture but revealed the emotional toll for Larson as he reflected on the championship now possibly slipping from his grasp.
Larson Examines the Championship Field and Acknowledges the New Favorite
Post-race, Kyle Larson gave candid remarks about the state of the playoffs, analyzing the competition and the uphill battle ahead. The fallout was especially hard on Ryan Blaney, whose tire failure and subsequent crash left him limping home with only a single point and 34 points behind the cutline. Joey Logano managed a sixth-place finish, keeping his playoff hopes alive, but his deficit remained a daunting 24 points. Hamlin’s win, meanwhile, clinched his position among the final four championship contenders and positioned him as the clear title favorite.
Larson remarked,
Yeah, I mean, I think you know the 12 had a bad day. The other 22 didn’t win. So right now, as long as the Team Penske car doesn’t win the next two races or I wouldn’t say that they’re not in must-win. But you know, obviously, we don’t want to see them win because they will be crazy fast at Phoenix.
– Kyle Larson, Driver.
He continued his analysis, pointing out Hamlin’s prime position in the title picture and the risks posed by the remaining races:
So if they don’t make it, then yeah, I think it’s wide open. I think the 11 is the only one guaranteed right now, so he would be the favorite, but you know, hopefully we can get in there because I do feel like you know,
– Kyle Larson, Driver.
Adding to that, he stated,
He would be the favorite.
– Kyle Larson, Driver.
Larson’s recognition of Hamlin’s dominance came with reason: the Las Vegas outcome not only put Hamlin at the forefront, but Larson himself, despite leading 129 laps and overseeing a strong performance by the Hendrick No. 5, conceded the spotlight. Hendrick’s work on flat track setups has shown progress, but Hamlin’s results at Phoenix Speedway—a career with three wins and a 10.2 average finish—makes him the marked man.
Still, Larson drew encouragement from gains by Hendrick Motorsports on similar tracks, naming Las Vegas, Iowa, and Richmond. He explained:
That’s an area where we have closed the gap a lot with them and maybe surpassed JGR on our flat track program. You know Iowa as well. New Hampshire was good. Richmond was better than we typically are. So yeah, I think I think we’re getting better,
– Kyle Larson, Driver.
Hendrick’s improvements keep Larson in contention, but Hamlin’s late Las Vegas charge highlighted the urgency in the final playoff stretch. The upcoming races leave no room for error, especially as the field hunts for any advantage in the fight for NASCAR’s top prize.
Talladega Approaches: The Unpredictable Playoff Challenge
Looking ahead, the Talladega Superspeedway race looms as a major hurdle—a true wild card in the NASCAR calendar. Despite holding third in the playoff standings with a modest 35-point cushion, Larson knows that Talladega’s reputation for unpredictability could erase any margin in an instant. Over 21 prior starts at Talladega, Larson carries only three top-five finishes and an average result of 21st.
Larson said ahead of the daunting race,
We’ll just try and go and execute like we have been this year at those places. Hopefully, we can have another good points day, and maybe Martinsville will be a little bit easier. I know right now it shows plus 35; somebody below the cut line wins. It’s a lot less. Playoff is crazy,
– Kyle Larson, Driver.
With Talladega featuring high-speed drafting and regular multi-car accidents, even the most skilled or prepared teams can suffer setbacks. The threat is amplified by contenders like Blaney or Logano, both of whom are desperate for a win and could disrupt the points standings further. Larson, however, is banking on his team’s recent improvements at superspeedway races, with solid outings previously at Daytona and Atlanta highlighting Hendrick’s progress.
The true aim will be to escape Talladega without major incident, setting up an opportunity to capitalize at Martinsville. There, Larson has historically found success—seven top-five finishes and a victory in 2023 suggest that Martinsville could be his best chance to earn a final playoff spot if disaster strikes at Talladega. As he emphasized,
Hopefully, we can have another good points day,
– Kyle Larson, Driver.
Despite the disappointment at Las Vegas, Larson’s resolve remains visible. Hamlin’s victory has put pressure squarely on the rest of the competitors, with Larson eyeing both the present and the closing rounds, where his experience on flat tracks and in high-pressure situations could prove decisive.
Larson Focuses on Phoenix as Title Hopes Hang in the Balance
The road to the NASCAR championship faces more twists, with Talladega’s unpredictability, the points scramble at Martinsville, and the final confrontation at Phoenix Raceway. While claiming that Hamlin is the favorite after Las Vegas, Larson’s playoff intelligence and Hendrick Motorsports’ recent progress mean he remains a real threat for the crown. As the season builds toward its conclusion, every decision and result will determine whether he can challenge Hamlin’s grip on the title or if the Vegas heartbreak becomes the defining moment of his 2025 campaign.
For fans following every twist, the final rounds will test both skill and resilience. Larson’s acceptance of Hamlin’s advantage does not signal surrender—it sets up an intense battle all the way to Phoenix, with hopes of using his own flat track strengths and playoff experience to turn the tide before the NASCAR Cup champion is crowned.
"He would be the favorite." –@KyleLarsonRacin expects @dennyhamlin to be dangerous at Phoenix Raceway.
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— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) October 13, 2025
