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Kyle Larson was well behind Denny Hamlin as the NASCAR Cup Series championship race reached the final laps Sunday night at Phoenix Raceway, but fellow contender William Byron brought out a caution when one of his tires blew out.
Larson went to the pits to change tires and the quick stop allowed him to get better track position, while Hamlin’s stop was slower and he dropped from first place to tenth. In overtime, with two laps left, Larson made a good jump and was able to hold off Hamlin to secure the second NASCAR Cup Series championship of his career.
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Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after finishing first of the 4 NASCAR Cup Series drivers to win the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 2, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Hamlin led 208 laps and was in the lead when the caution was issued. He told NBC that he really hoped a caution flag didn’t come out in the closing laps. Unfortunately, the hopes were dashed.
He seemed surprised when NBC cameras showed him sitting in his number 11 Toyota. He won six races during the year, but failed to finish ahead of Larson to secure what would have been the first championship of his career.
Instead, it was Larson, who did enough to hold the trophy in the end. He earned three wins on the year and held his own in the playoffs to become one of the Championship Four drivers. He did not lead any laps in the championship race.
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 2, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
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Byron, who won the Martinsville race to enter the championship, finished 33rd. He led 52 laps and gave Hamlin the biggest run for his money for most of the race.
Briscoe finished 18th. He led three laps.
Ryan Blaney won the race itself. He finished ahead of Brad Keselowski and Larson. Joey Logano and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five.
Larson became the third Hendrick Motorsports driver to win multiple NASCAR Cup Series titles, joining Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.
Denny Hamlin leads the field during a NASCAR Cup Series car race on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Avondale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Hamlin has 60 career wins, but has yet to win a Cup title.
