In a drama-filled final at Phoenix Raceway, Kyle Larson was crowned NASCAR champion for the second time, snatching the title from Denny Hamlin in a race that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
When everything seemed to indicate that Hamlin would achieve his first championship, an unexpected accident by William Byron, also a title contender, changed the course of the competition. The yellow flag, with only three laps to go, forced a pit stop that reconfigured the teams’ strategy.
“Simply incredible. I can’t believe it,” Larson declared, visibly excited.
Kyle Larson
Hamlin, who was leading the race with a considerable advantage, opted to change all four tires, while Larson only changed two. This strategic decision put Larson in an advantageous position for the restart, relegating Hamlin to tenth position.Kyle Larson celebra con sus hijos tras asegurar el campeonato de la NASCAR Cup Series 2025. Este es el segundo campeonato para Larson, quien ganó su primer título en 2021 cuando se unió a Hendrick Motorsports.With only two laps remaining, Hamlin couldn’t regain enough ground, finishing in sixth place, while Larson secured third place, enough to secure the championship.
Hamlin’s Disillusionment
The disappointment was palpable on Hamlin’s face, who once again saw the opportunity to obtain the title vanish. “I really don’t have much emotion at the moment. Just numb with shock,” said Hamlin, visibly affected.
The race marked the sixth time Hamlin has seen his championship aspirations frustrated in his 20-year career. Despite leading 208 of the 319 laps and starting from the pole position, luck was not on his side.
“Nothing I could have done differently. My team gave me a fantastic car. It just didn’t work out. I was praying for ‘no caution’ and we got it,” lamented Hamlin.
Denny HamlinEs la sexta vez que un campeonato de NASCAR se le escapa a Denny Hamlin en sus 20 años de carrera para Joe Gibbs Racing. Lideró 208 de las 319 vueltas y partió desde la pole. “Nada que pudiera haber hecho diferente”, dijo Hamlin.The 44-year-old driver has experienced bitterness in previous finals, with bad luck and strategies that prevented him from achieving glory in 2010, 2014, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Larson’s teammate, Chase Briscoe, finished in 18th place, while Byron, also Larson’s teammate, finished in 33rd place after his incident. Byron expressed his regret for ruining Hamlin’s chances, even though his Hendrick Motorsports teammate won the championship.
