Kyle Larson Crowned NASCAR Champion in Dramatic Finale
AVONDALE, Arizona – Kyle Larson clinched his second NASCAR championship in a final filled with unexpected twists at Phoenix Raceway. The race, which seemed destined for Denny Hamlin, changed radically due to a late yellow flag that rewrote the script of the competition.
Larson, aware that he couldn’t catch Hamlin in the final laps without the help of a caution flag, saw how luck smiled on him. Hamlin, on the other hand, experienced the bitterness of defeat, losing the opportunity to secure his first title.
Simply incredible. I can’t believe it.
Kyle Larson
The yellow flag, caused by a puncture and William Byron’s crash against the wall just three laps from the finish, altered the course of the race. Hamlin, who was leading and on the verge of breaking his streak of not winning a championship, was forced to pit to change tires, while Larson opted for only two.
This strategic decision placed Larson in fifth place for the final two-lap sprint, while Hamlin was in tenth. Despite Hamlin’s efforts, he couldn’t recover, finishing in sixth place, while Larson secured third place, enough to win the championship.Kyle Larson celebrates with his children after winning the NASCAR championship.
The champion, who had not led any laps in the race, was surprised by the result. “We had an average car at best and we had a right front tire that punctured, we lost a lap and were saved by the yellow flag. It’s simply incredible,” declared Larson.
Hamlin, visibly affected, expressed his disbelief and frustration. “We were 40 seconds away from a championship. This sport can drive you absolutely crazy because sometimes speed, talent, none of that matters,” he commented.
Ryan Blaney, who was not in contention for the title, won the race. “You have to feel sorry for that group and for Denny. They did a good job all day, but it didn’t go as they hoped. But that’s how motorsport is. Sometimes it’s a shame,” said Blaney.
For Hamlin, this is the sixth time a title has slipped away in his 20-year career. Despite having led 208 of the 319 laps and having started from the pole position, luck was not on his side.
The 44-year-old driver, who had been unlucky in previous finals, lamented the situation. “Nothing I could do differently. I prepared as best I could for the weekend and my team gave me a fantastic car,” Hamlin said. “It just didn’t work out. I was just praying ‘no caution’ and we had one. What can you do? It just wasn’t meant to be.”Denny Hamlin in his sixth failed attempt at a NASCAR championship.
Hamlin’s teammate, Chase Briscoe, finished in 18th place, while Byron, Larson’s teammate, finished in 33rd place after his late issue. Byron expressed his regret for ruining Hamlin’s opportunities, although his Hendrick Motorsports teammate won the championship.
I am very disappointed that it was obviously a caution. I hate it. I hate it for Denny. I hate it for the 11 team,” Byron said. “I mean, Denny was on his way. I hate it. There’s a lot of respect there. Obviously, I don’t want to cause a caution. If I had known which tire it was, if I had known a tire was going flat before I got to the corner, I would have done something different.
