Kyle Larson clinches third NASCAR Cup championship and second in a row
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Kyle Larson secured his third NASCAR Cup Series championship and second consecutive title with a fourth-place finish in the first stage of the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, clinching the championship early in the race.
- Larson finished 12th in the final race, winning the championship by 49 points over Christopher Bell and 56 points over Denny Hamlin, while Ryan Blaney won the race itself.
- This championship marks Larson as the third Hendrick Motorsports driver with at least three titles, joining Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, and making him the 14th driver in NASCAR history to win back-to-back Cup championships.
- Larson's 2026 title run was marked by a strong performance in the Chase playoffs, where he improved his average finish significantly, won multiple races, and led in key statistical categories among the contenders.
- Hendrick Motorsports extended its record with a 16th Cup championship, with team owner Rick Hendrick praising the resilience and teamwork that led to Larson's success despite a challenging regular season.
