NASCAR Cup Series Championship Recap
Kyle Larson found himself lagging behind Denny Hamlin in the closing laps of the NASCAR Cup Series championship race at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday night. Then, the unexpected happened: William Byron suffered a tire blowout, triggering a caution.
Seizing the moment, Larson pitted for fresh tires and managed a swift stop, allowing him to gain ground on the track. Meanwhile, Hamlin, who had been leading, struggled with his pit stop, dropping from first to tenth. In the final laps of overtime, Larson executed an impressive move to fend off Hamlin, securing his second NASCAR Cup Series championship title.
Hamlin had led a remarkable 208 laps and was in front when the caution was thrown. He later expressed his hope to NBC that the yellow flag wouldn’t come out at such a critical juncture. Unfortunately for him, that wish didn’t materialize.
Hamlin’s expression was one of disbelief when NBC showed him in his No. 11 Toyota. Despite six wins during the season, he couldn’t outpace Larson, who was aiming for his first championship. Instead, it was Larson who edged out the competition in the end. Although he only won three races in the year, he continued to perform well in the playoffs and became one of the final four drivers in the championship mix. It’s interesting to note, he didn’t lead many laps during the championship race itself.
Byron, who clinched his spot in the championship by winning at Martinsville, ended the race in 33rd place. He managed to lead 52 laps, putting up a solid challenge against Hamlin for most of the contest. Meanwhile, Briscoe finished 18th, having led for a brief three laps.
The actual race concluded with Ryan Blaney taking the win, followed closely by Brad Keselowski and Larson. Joey Logano and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five. With this latest victory, Larson joins the ranks of only three Hendrick Motorsports drivers ever to win multiple NASCAR Cup Series titles, alongside the legendary Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.
Interestingly, while Hamlin boasts 60 career wins, he still seeks his first Cup Series championship.
