Larson NASCAR Champion: Snapped Title from Hamlin in Epic Finale

Kyle Larson Crowned NASCAR Champion in Dramatic Finale

AVONDALE, Arizona – Kyle Larson clinched his second NASCAR championship in a race full of emotions and unexpected twists at Phoenix Raceway. The victory came after a dramatic final that left Denny Hamlin, who was leading the race, heartbroken. Larson, aware that he couldn’t catch Hamlin in the final laps without a yellow flag, saw how luck smiled on him. An unexpected caution, caused by a puncture of William Byron, changed the course of the race, sending it to overtime and frustrating Hamlin’s hopes.

Simply incredible. I can’t believe it.

Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson celebrates with his children after securing the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. It is the second championship for Larson, who won his first title in 2021 when he joined Hendrick Motorsports.Hamlin’s disappointment was palpable. Despite having led much of the race and starting from pole position, victory slipped through his fingers. His team’s decision to put four new tires on the car during the yellow flag, while Larson only changed two, relegated him to tenth position for the restart.

I don’t really have much emotion right now. Just numb from the shock.

Denny Hamlin

Larson, with two new tires, managed to position himself in fifth place for the final two-lap sprint, finishing third in the race. Ryan Blaney, who was not in contention for the title, won the race. The champion, who had not led any laps and even suffered a setback with a tire, was surprised by his victory. “We had an average car at best and the front right tire blew, we lost a lap and we were saved by caution with the lap. It’s simply incredible. What a year for this racing team!”, declared Larson. For Hamlin, this is the sixth time a title has slipped away in his 20-year career. Despite having given it his all, luck was not on his side. The 44-year-old driver, visibly affected, showed resignation. “Nothing I could have done differently. I prepared as best I could for the weekend and my team gave me a fantastic car. It just didn’t work out. I was praying there wouldn’t be a caution and we had one,” Hamlin lamented.

It’s the sixth championship opportunity in NASCAR that slips away from Denny Hamlin in his 20-year career for Joe Gibbs Racing. He led 208 of the 319 laps and started from the pole. “Nothing I could have done differently,” said Hamlin.The race also left a bittersweet taste for William Byron, whose puncture caused the yellow flag that changed the course of the final. “I feel really bad for Denny. I hate that. I hate that for the 11 team,” said Byron, showing his respect for Hamlin.