Kyle Larson has accomplished it, clinching the 2026 NASCAR Cup Sequence title by the top of Stage 1 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Tyler Reddick gained the opening stage, whereas Kyle Larson positioned fourth, scoring seven stage factors. He was battling title rival Christopher Bell for third when the stage-ending warning flew for Chase Briscoe’s engine failure.
Since Bell positioned third within the stage, and Denny Hamlin sixth, Larson’s P4 was sufficient for him to clinch the title mid-race.
He turns into simply the eleventh driver in NASCAR Cup Sequence historical past to win three championships, and the primary to win back-to-back Cup titles because the finish of Jimmie Johnson’s historic five-year run in 2010.
That is additionally Hendrick Motorsports’ sixteenth NASCAR Cup title, with Larson delivering Mr. H the crown in 2021, 2025, and now 2026.
There’s nonetheless two-thirds of the Cup finale left to run, however it’s all in regards to the win now as Larson goals to gather his fourth win within the closing ten Chase races. It is outstanding as he started the championship combat going through a winless streak that exceeded 50 races, however he is since gone on a tear with victories at Gateway, Kansas, and Talladega.
When advised on the radio by crew chief Cliff Daniels that he was the champion, Larson merely replied: “Okay, that was a little bit anticlimactic, however that is cool. Good job, guys.”
Rick Hendrick later bought on the radio and advised Larson: “Congrats, now you possibly can journey the wall.” The motive force of the No. 5 had already brushed it early within the race, by no means actually taking it simple whereas on his strategy to clinching the crown.
Kaden Honeycutt gained the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence championship on Friday, and Justin Allgaier gained his second NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Elements Sequence title on Saturday.
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