Kyle Larson has cemented his status as a NASCAR powerhouse, capturing his third Cup Series title in just six years. The 34-year-old driver clinched the championship early during Sunday’s 400-mile season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. By successfully defending his title, Larson became the first driver to accomplish a back-to-back championship run since Jimmie Johnson, who famously won five consecutive titles beginning in 2006. He became the first back-to-back champion since Jimmie Johnson in 2010; Johnson won five in a row beginning in 2006. He was the overwhelming favorite to hoist the Bill France Cup in Homestead long before the green flag dropped. “I got the word that we clinched it, and I started driving like an idiot,” Larson said. “I’m more mad at myself.”. “They were debating on if a hot dog is a sandwich and if cereal is a soup,” Larson said. “So I would say they were pretty relaxed. He won four of the last five races — including the finale at Phoenix Raceway — while still dealing with questions about how his time ended at Chip Ganassi Racing. Leading to a parade event that Larson called awkward, securing the title was so much of a slam dunk that Larson was the only Cup driver invited to NASCAR’s championship media day Thursday.
With this victory, Larson joins the exclusive ranks of the 11 drivers in NASCAR history to secure three or more Cup titles. This elite list features legends such as Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Johnson, who each hold seven championships. Other notable three-time winners include Darrell Waltrip, Tony Stewart, and Joey Logano. Lee Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough.
While Larson secured the overall championship, Ryan Blaney took the race win for Team Penske, narrowly outpacing 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick during the final lap while NBA icon Michael Jordan watched from the sidelines. Following Reddick, the top finishers included William Byron, Christopher Bell, Bubba Wallace, and Denny Hamlin. Larson finished in 12th place, but the race result was secondary to his title achievement, which he celebrated with his team and children atop his No. 5 Chevrolet. 5 Chevy with the championship flag and all three kids to celebrate. He took advantage of a late caution — his crew put on two new tires instead of four — and leaped sentimental favorite Denny Hamlin on pit road with two laps to go.
The title race was essentially decided early in the event. Entering the weekend with a 67-point lead over Christopher Bell, Larson needed only nine points to secure the trophy. He earned one point for the start and seven additional points by finishing fourth in the opening stage. Because Bell failed to win that stage, his window to catch Larson closed immediately. Upon hearing the news over his radio from crew chief Cliff Daniels, Larson remarked that the moment felt somewhat anticlimactic. He immediately stopped near the start-finish line for a smoky burnout and then exchanged high-fives and hugs with his team and his kids.
The championship run highlights a dominant postseason performance where Larson broke a 51-race winless streak by winning three of nine playoff events. This momentum mirrors his 2021 breakout season with Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick, who celebrated his 16th Cup title as an owner, jokingly encouraged Larson to “ride the wall” after the clinch. The driver complied, resulting in a cut tire that removed him from contention for the race win, a mistake Larson later admitted was driven by a lapse in focus after the title was secured. “Now you can go ride the wall,” Hendrick joked. Larson did and ended up cutting a right-rear tire and having to pit out of sequence. He ended a 51-race winless skid by winning three of the previous nine playoff events and finished in the top 10 in eight of them. Regardless, Larson put himself in position for the title with a historic postseason, dubbed NASCAR’s Chase for the championship.
Larson’s ability to compete across various disciplines has drawn comparisons to history’s greatest versatile racers. Experts often point to the following legends as benchmarks for multi-series success
- Andretti won four IndyCar titles, the 1967 Daytona 500 and the 1969 Indianapolis 500.
- Foyt won four Indy 500s and the 1972 Daytona 500.
- Stewart won the 1997 IndyCar championship, three Cup Series titles and is currently racing dragsters at the top level, the NHRA.
Beyond his NASCAR success, Larson has proved his talent by competing in the Indy 500 twice, winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona, three Chili Bowls, and four Knoxville Nationals. NBC Sports analyst and retired driver Jeff Burton praised this adaptability, noting that Larson consistently defeats top-tier competitors across entirely different vehicle classes and track types. Jones won in sprint cars and stock cars around the same time he won the 1963 Indianapolis 500.
