Hendrick Motorsports’ path to its fifteenth NASCAR Cup Series championship was defined by a stunning twist at Phoenix Raceway, where on Sunday, fortunes changed unexpectedly in the closing laps of the 2025 Cup Series finale. The Hendrick Motorsports championship outcome unfolded in a way few could have predicted, with one driver’s misfortune turning into the pivotal moment for another, leaving the team’s members and fans with mixed emotions.
From the onset, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin appeared to have the car to beat, dominating the early and middle stages at the one-mile Phoenix oval. William Byron, representing Hendrick Motorsports, was the only consistent challenger, leading the field four different times and remaining a serious contender through 52 laps at the front. Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet carried the team’s hopes, especially after his teammate, Kyle Larson, experienced an early setback—a flat tire on his No. 5 car caused him to lose a lap and seemingly drop out of contention.
Despite Larson’s rally back onto the lead lap, the odds favored Byron as he maintained second place behind Hamlin as the race counted down. However, with less than three laps remaining, Byron’s race took a sudden, disappointing turn when a catastrophic tire failure sent him into the wall, abruptly ending his championship pursuit. The incident brought out a caution flag and set the stage for a green-white-checkered finish that would dramatically alter the race’s outcome.
Byron is in the wall!
This may change everything! #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/4AgbfEa8V7
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 2, 2025
As the field reset, Cliff Daniels, serving as Larson’s crew chief, made a daring call to change only two tires when most competitors, including Hamlin, opted for four under the caution. This bold strategy placed Larson several positions ahead of Hamlin for the race’s critical restart.
Though Hamlin’s car was considered superior, he was forced to start from 10th—five spots behind Larson—and had only two laps to regain lost ground. Larson, despite having a car that struggled to keep up with Hamlin’s pace throughout most of the event, managed to fend off late charges and crossed the finish line three places ahead of Hamlin, clinching the victory and the championship.
Bitter and Sweet: The Emotional Fallout for Hendrick Motorsports
Kyle Larson’s unexpected triumph secured his second Cup Series title since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, but the joy was tinged with the disappointment felt by William Byron and his supporters. Had Byron not suffered his late misfortune, Larson seemed all but certain to finish third among the elite Championship 4—underscoring how swiftly fate can shift in motorsport, transforming Byron’s loss into Larson’s opportunity at the last possible moment.
Jeff Gordon, the organization’s vice chairman and a legendary figure in the sport, acknowledged both Byron’s challenge and heartbreak, saying,
William Byron, those guys, they had a great year,
and continuing,
Hate it for them, because they’ve been in this position last three years.
Gordon’s reflections captured the duality of the moment for Hendrick Motorsports, a team celebrating another landmark accomplishment while empathizing deeply with one of their brightest drivers.
Even Larson, who stood on the winning side of the team’s emotional divide because of the incident, expressed his own sympathy for Byron, calling it an unfortunate break for his teammate. Byron himself offered praise for Larson and the organization, saying,
I’m happy for Kyle, for Mr. (Rick) Hendrick,
before admitting to his own disappointment. In his own words,
We had a good day going. Had a shot to win it there. Just didn’t quite have enough. You just regroup, go to next year, I guess.
Team owner Rick Hendrick remains optimistic about Byron’s future, stating,
I think William’s going to win a lot,
a strong show of support for Byron, who still capped his season with three wins and a regular season title. Despite the heartbreak in Phoenix, Byron’s journey underscores the competitiveness and unpredictability that define NASCAR’s championship races.
The Broader Impact and What Lies Ahead for Hendrick Motorsports
This year’s Cup Series finale at Phoenix drew out the emotional spectrum experienced by everyone involved with Hendrick Motorsports, from the pit crews and drivers to owner Rick Hendrick and vice chairman Jeff Gordon. Securing another Cup Series title deepens the legacy of the organization, affirming its place as a dominant force in the sport’s modern era.
While Kyle Larson’s late surge will be remembered as a testament to perseverance and the value of teamwork—even when one teammate’s setback inadvertently turns into another’s defining triumph—the heartbreak for William Byron serves as a reminder of how fiercely competitive and unpredictable top-level NASCAR racing remains. Denny Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing, who controlled much of the race, personify how easily championships can slip away despite dominating performances.
For William Byron, the future looks bright under the continued guidance of Rick Hendrick, and the team’s blend of experienced leadership and young talent signals more competitive seasons ahead. As the dust settles, Hendrick Motorsports will look to build on both its victories and its near-misses, aiming for continued excellence in the fiercely contested NASCAR Cup Series, and always mindful that in racing, every lap can change everything.
Byron is in the wall!
This may change everything! #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/4AgbfEa8V7
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 2, 2025
