At Phoenix Raceway, Kyle Larson stunned the motorsport world by clinching the Kyle Larson NASCAR championship in a dramatic turn of events on Sunday. Despite trailing behind throughout the season finale and not leading a single lap, Larson capitalized on late-race chaos, ultimately securing his second NASCAR Cup Series title as fate derailed Denny Hamlin’s near-perfect campaign.
Late-Race Drama Alters Championship Fate
The tension surrounding tire performance was apparent all weekend, with trouble surfacing from practice to the closing laps of the season-ending race. Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing, who had built momentum with a Las Vegas victory, appeared poised to capture his long-awaited title. However, a sudden late caution set in motion a series of pivotal pit strategy decisions, upending the championship battle and creating an unexpected window for Kyle Larson.
Despite not winning since Kansas in May, Larson found himself third across the finish line at the 312-lap contest. Race-winner Ryan Blaney and runner-up Brad Keselowski topped the podium, but Larson’s focus remained on the ultimate goal: the Bill France Cup. His execution in the race’s final moments allowed him to leave Arizona as a two-time series champion, overshadowing Blaney’s fourth victory of the season.
The Decisive Caution and Shifting Strategies
Hamlin commanded much of the competition in his #11 Toyota Camry, weaving skillfully through the Phoenix Raceway field. Yet, with just three laps remaining, the complexion of the race changed abruptly. William Byron, Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, suffered a right-front tire failure in Turn 3, striking the wall and bringing out a caution that reset the championship’s momentum.
On pit road, crucial decisions unfolded. Hamlin’s team opted for four fresh tires, aiming for security, while Larson’s crew chose a riskier two-tire strategy. This move proved decisive, as Larson restarted ahead of Hamlin, held his position in the high line, and kept clean air to his advantage. Hamlin was left struggling as the No. 11 faded to sixth, unable to mount a late challenge.
I thought I was going to line up on the front row with Ryan,
Larson said.
This is going to be good. He can choose the bottom. I know what to expect into one with grip … My hope was that Denny was not going to get a great one and two. I thought with four fresh tires, he might get through there well. We might be side by side. I thought that’s how it would net out off of two. I got a better one and two than I expected. Then yeah, for a bit I thought I was going to win. They were going kind of crazy on the radio; my spotter was telling me that the 11 was kind of jammed up back there. I was going to be committed to the outside lane. I felt like that was going to be my best opportunity to find clean air, maintain momentum. Yeah, was just trying not to crash there at the end… I was trying what I could to win the race. But yeah, we did what we had to do to win the championship.
Recognition for Hamlin’s Speed and the Team Behind Larson
Larson acknowledged the remarkable pace shown by Denny Hamlin throughout the race, noting how Hamlin and Ryan Blaney had formidable performances. The #11 Camry, in Larson’s estimation, stood out as the field’s top contender among the four championship drivers.
The 11 was by far the best car,
Larson said.
I thought him and the 12 were really good. Out of the four of us the #11 I thought was the best.
Larson attributed much of his victory to the support and decision-making of his crew chief, Cliff Daniels. According to the championship driver, Daniels’ leadership and poise kept the Hendrick Motorsports team focused and adaptable amid a race filled with unpredictability.
Friendship Amid Fiery Competition
The emotional complexity of the finish was heightened by the close friendship between Larson and Hamlin. The championship was decided by a late caution and bold pit choices, circumstances that weighed on Larson even as he celebrated the triumph.
There’s definitely a large piece of me that feels really bad and sad,
Larson told members of the media.
But at the same point, I’m happy. It’s such a weird feeling. When you don’t win the race, you don’t lead a lap, you win the championship, you steal it from a guy who has tried for so long and had it in his fingertips, it’s a really weird feeling.
Both drivers, known for their camaraderie both on and off the track, experienced contrasting emotions as the race concluded—Larson with disbelief and mixed feelings, Hamlin with visible heartbreak.
Pivotal Team Decisions Shape the Outcome
Critical strategic calls from both pit crews played central roles in the outcome. In the heat of those tense closing laps, Cliff Daniels’ choice to put Larson on two-tire stops proved essential for championship contention. If the Hendrick crew had opted for four tires during either of the final pit stops, the championship trophy might well have slipped into Hamlin’s grasp instead.
For Hamlin and the Joe Gibbs Racing crew, regret loomed large. Their four-tire selection led to Hamlin returning to the track in tenth with just a pair of laps to go, diminishing the odds of a last-minute charge. Different circumstances, or perhaps a mirror of the two-tire gamble, could have brought the long-awaited championship to Hamlin and the team that had performed nearly flawlessly throughout the season.
Raw Emotion in the Aftermath
The minutes following the finish revealed the intense emotional stakes at play. Hamlin, visibly gutted by the result, took time before emerging from his car, ultimately finding solace in the embrace of his fiancée, Jordan Fish. Fans witnessed a poignant scene of shared grief, as Hamlin’s pit crew, crew chief, and his daughters, who had hoped for a celebratory moment, gathered in support amid the disappointment of a championship lost by the narrowest of margins.
This dramatic finale at Phoenix Raceway will be remembered for the blend of precision, fortune, heartbreak, and resilience on display. Kyle Larson’s bold strategy and perseverance enabled him to seize the Kyle Larson NASCAR championship, while Hamlin’s struggles underscore the unpredictable nature of motorsport, leaving both competitors and their supporters to reflect on what might have been and what could still lie ahead as the next NASCAR season approaches.
