Kyle Larson emerged as the 2023 Kyle Larson NASCAR Cup champion, overcoming challenges during a highly charged race at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday. In a showdown marked by critical strategy decisions and late cautions, Larson finished third in the race but clinched the championship in a climactic conclusion to NASCAR’s season.
Blaney Takes the Victory, Reflects on Race Dynamics and Respect for Competitors
Ryan Blaney crossed the finish line first, expressing pride in his team’s performance and careful navigation around the championship contenders. He emphasized both the achievement of ending in Victory Lane and the approach he took throughout the event.
“It’s just cool to end it on a good note. It’s just cool and obviously we had a fast car all day. Those other guys were just kind of faster getting going and I could never retain the lead. Those guys were just really good and it took my car a while to come in, but it was a really good call for two there and keeping track position. I got a decent restart and I was able to kind of roll the bottom in three and four and eek the 6 out at the line. I’m just really proud of the whole group and cool to end it in Victory Lane. It’s a shame we weren’t in the Championship 4. Congrats to Kyle and that whole team. I’m happy for this team that we could end it the best way we could. You just go try to win the race. I didn’t really have any of them in front of me. There wasn’t really two of them side-by-side. I tried to race those guys really good all day and gave them respect and tried to let them race it out at time, and at times I could go if it got gapped, but you’re just aware of everybody that’s around you. You don’t want to be the storyline to mess up a guy’s championship, so it was good that we were able to just run our race and run it clean to the end.”
— Ryan Blaney, winner
Larson’s Unlikely Path to the Championship and Teamwork with Hendrick Motorsports
Kyle Larson described his championship run as improbable, given the obstacles Hendrick Motorsports faced during the race. Despite not leading a single lap, he capitalized on strategic decisions and advantageous cautions, all while crediting his crew chief Cliff Daniels and the overall team spirit for pushing through adversity.
“We did the best job we could. Honestly, I can’t believe it. Like, we didn’t lead a lap today. Somehow won the championship. I mean, really, I’m just speechless. I can’t believe it. We had an average car at best. We had the right front go down, lost a lap. Got saved by the caution. Did the wave-around. Was really bad that run. We took two tires. 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 the final caution. I was really hoping we were going to take two (tires) again. I felt like I learned a lot on that restart, bombing one and two really hard. Thought I could do the same thing if we got another one. Just unbelievable. What a year by this Hendrick Motorsports. Cliff Daniels, everybody, his leadership, his complete leadership just showed that whole race. Keeping us all motivated. Always having a plan. All of that. That’s just the story of our season.Again, just unbelievable. I cannot believe it. This is insane.”
— Kyle Larson, NASCAR Cup champion
Hamlin’s Disappointment as Late Caution Alters Race Outcome
Denny Hamlin, who finished sixth, lamented the effects of a late-race caution that altered the championship picture. He praised his crew’s preparation of a top-tier car and expressed disappointment about missing out despite strong efforts throughout the weekend.
“Yeah, nothing I can do different. 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 that no caution. Had one there. What can you do? Just not meant to be. I thought still okay. We took four tires. I thought that definitely was the right call. Just so many cars took two there. Obviously put us back. Team did a fantastic job. They prepared a championship car. Just didn’t happen. I’ll try. I got a couple more shots at it. Man, if you can’t win that one, I don’t know which one you can win.”
— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series driver
Briscoe Embraces a Gritty Season and Looks Toward the Future
Chase Briscoe, despite finishing 18th, underscored the importance of persistence in his career and within his team at Joe Gibbs Racing. He recounted the hurdles faced during the race, his appreciation for being in contention, and his optimism for the upcoming season alongside colleague James.
“Certainly eventful. We never gave up. That’s been the story of my whole career, never giving up. You never know what can change at any point.Felt like we were good enough. We came from the front to the back two or three different times. Had a really good Toyota. Wish we could have been on an even playing field at some point. Was about to pass William, blew another tire. Just part of it. Obviously thankful for the opportunity. So excited to be at Joe Gibbs Racing, be able to compete for wins and compete for championships. Hate that one of us didn’t get it. I thought we were both certainly capable. This wasn’t our day. Go into next year and see if we can do a little bit better. (The season) was big. Just in the sense of you always think you can do it. You never really know if you can. This year to prove to myself and certainly a lot of other people, too, that I feel like I belong here, right? So yeah, looking forward to obviously building on that. Really this year I felt like we gave the field half a season head start because we were learning so much throughout the process. We’ll start on an even playing field next year, see if we can be better. Certainly, we think we can get back here. James and I were talking, we don’t even feel like we’re at our full potential yet. I definitely feel confident we can get back.”
— Chase Briscoe, NASCAR Cup driver
Byron Experiences Heartbreak, Commends Champions, and Plans for Redemption
William Byron finished 33rd following a late tire issue, which he explained left him powerless as it led to a race-altering caution. Byron expressed support for Kyle Larson and team owner Rick Hendrick, noting their deserving nature, while also looking forward to recovering next season after an otherwise successful year.
“I don’t know all the details. Yeah, I’m just super bummed that it was a caution obviously. I hate that. Hate it for Denny. I hate it for the 11 team.I’m happy for Kyle, for Mr. Hendrick, they deserve it. Yeah, it stinks, right? I don’t know, three laps to go, I’m thinking, Let me get to the end. I felt something funny off of two, thought it might be a flat. I thought at the time if it’s left rear, you can kind of get back. It just went straight into three. Laid down on the right rear, went straight.I hate that. Yeah, just felt like a passenger at that point. Proud of the team. We had a good day going, had a shot to win it there. Just didn’t quite have enough.Yeah, just regroup, go to next year, I guess. Yeah, we brought our best towards the end of the Playoffs, for sure. The win last week was great. Today was really good, too. I thought we were kind of right there, but not quite enough. It’s been an awesome year. Wish we could have finished it off better. We’ll get going for next year, take some much-needed time off. I mean, Denny was on his way to it. I hate that. There’s a lot of respect there. I obviously do not want to cause a caution. If I had known what tire it was, known that a tire was going down before I got to the corner, I would have done something different. Yeah, you just feel like a passenger. It sucks.”
— William Byron, NASCAR Cup driver
The Race’s Intensity and the Broader Impact of Larson’s Championship
The Phoenix finale concluded a season full of adversity and unexpected turns, reflected in the emotional reactions from drivers like Kyle Larson and William Byron. Hendrick Motorsports emerged as the leading organization with Larson’s championship, demonstrating a combination of resilience and tactical strength through the leadership of Cliff Daniels and company owner Rick Hendrick.
With Ryan Blaney achieving victory in the race and drivers such as Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe displaying both disappointment and hope, NASCAR fans witnessed an unforgettable display of perseverance and sportsmanship. The ending highlighted how quickly fortunes can change in racing, often decided by late cautions and crucial pit calls.
As the newly crowned Kyle Larson NASCAR Cup champion, Larson’s achievement cements his place among the elite drivers of the era. The championship is expected to have a lasting impact on his career, Hendrick Motorsports, and the broader NASCAR landscape, stirring anticipation for further intense competition in the seasons ahead.
