AVONDALE, Ariz. - For the second time in his career, Kyle Larson is a NASCAR Cup Series champion.
And for the second time in his career, it came with a big-time assist from his team.
Running in the top six but behind then-leader and Championship 4 foe Denny Hamlin on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron had a tire go flat and hit the wall, bringing out the caution with just three laps remaining.
After taking two tires on the previous stop to gain track position, Cliff Daniels made another two-tire call and Larson made it stick, bringing it home third and more importantly, the best of the Championship 4. The result gave team owner Rick Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports a Cup-Series best 15th championship, all coming over the last 31 seasons.
"Honestly, I can't believe it," Larson beamed. "I mean, really, I'm just speechless. I can't believe it. We had an average car at best. We had the right-front (tire) go down, lost a lap. Got saved by the caution. Did the wave around. Was really bad that run. We took two tires. I was like, 'Oh, God, here we go. We're going to go to the back now.'
"It had a lot more grip than I anticipated."
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In many ways, the afternoon embodied the very traits that have made the No. 5 team formidable in recent seasons, most notably its ability to overcome adversity. To say the least, a championship seemed improbably throughout most of stage three.
Byron was hardly the only driver to suffer from a tire issue. In fact, flats were the theme Friday's practice and that continued into Sunday's event.
Larson was among the numerous drivers snakebitten, having a tire go down with just 97 laps remaining. He was able to duck onto pit road, but the race stayed green and the 5 team fell a lap down. Just two laps later, however, a third member of the Championship 4, Chase Briscoe, also had a tire go down followed by one for Noah Gragson. The latter incident caused a caution flag and allowed Larson to take a wave around on the ensuing stoppage to rejoin the lead lap at the tail end.
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But from there, the climb was steep and long. At the front of the field, Byron battled with Hamlin for the race lead as Larson tried to pick his way through traffic. However, the cautions kept coming, and they started to provide openings for Daniels.
With 52 circuits remaining, Austin Cindric crashed. That allowed a four-tire stop and for the 5 team and for Larson to get back on even footing after being at a tire deficit for a handful of laps prior.
Then, with 32 laps remaining, JJ Yeley hit the wall. Seizing the moment, Daniels called for a two-tire stop, and Larson lined up second on the ensuing restart with Briscoe also taking right sides only and grabbing the lead.
Byron and Hamlin each took four tires, and it made for an exciting battle between all four Championship 4 drivers with a moment of four-wide racing at the front. With a tire advantage, Hamlin regained the lead and Byron pulled into second but despite losing the lead, both Larson and Briscoe were able to maintain track position inside the top 10.
Hamlin, whose car was better on short runs throughout the day, surged ahead and seemed poised to cruise into the sunset. But Byron, who was engaged in a battle with eventual-race-winner Ryan Blaney for second, had a tire go down three circuits short of the finish. The No. 24 made hard contact with the fence, and the yellow flag flew for a ninth and final time.
While it ultimately gave Larson, Daniels and company the final chance they needed, it ended Byron's pursuit of a first title. He led 52 laps and won stage one on Sunday.
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"I felt something a little funny on that lap," Byron said. "I was trying to figure out left rear, right rear. About the time I hit the brakes into (turn) three, it laid down on the right side of the car and went straight.
"Proud of the team. We had a good day going, had a shot to win it there. Just didn't quite have enough."
With tires at a premium, most of the field snaked back down pit road one last time. Having already made and executed a two-tire stop, Daniels took a final swing. Brad Keselowski, Ryan Preece and Alex Bowman stayed out with Blaney, Larson, Joey Logano, Josh Berry, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott all electing to take two. Denny Hamlin was the first car out on four tires in 10th.
"I was really hoping we were going to take two again," Larson said. "I felt like I learned a lot on that restart, bombing one and two really hard. Thought I could do the same thing if we got another one."
With that many cars between the two, it was plenty of cushion for Larson, who jumped to the outside lane on the restart and surged ahead. Hamlin finished sixth.
Elliott too was in position early in stage three, leading 30 laps after seizing the lead with a lightning-quick pit stop from the No. 9 team. Despite a tough-luck speeding penalty, Elliott rallied all the way back to come home 10th. Bowman finished 15th.
Be sure to check back in at HendrickMotorsports.com for continued coverage in the days ahead!
Who won the Championship Race on Sunday?
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet
- Joey Logano, No. 22
- Kyle Busch, No. 8
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11
- Josh Berry, No. 21
- Michael McDowell, No. 71
- Ryan Preece, No. 60
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet
- Christopher Bell, No. 20
- Chris Buescher, No. 17
- Ross Chastain, No. 1
- Justin Haley, No. 7
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet
- Erik Jones, No. 43
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99
- Austin Dillon, No. 3
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34
- Riley Herbst, No. 35
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88
- Cole Custer, No. 41
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45
- Noah Gragson, No. 4
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77
- Zane Smith, No. 38
- Cody Ware, No. 51
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42
- JJ Yeley, No. 44
- William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet
- Austin Cindric, No. 2
- Ty Dillon, No. 10
- Casey Mears, No. 66
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 16
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Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series champions
- 1995: Jeff Gordon
- 1996: Terry Labonte
- 1997: Jeff Gordon
- 1998: Jeff Gordon
- 2001: Jeff Gordon
- 2006: Jimmie Johnson
- 2007: Jimmie Johnson
- 2008: Jimmie Johnson
- 2009: Jimmie Johnson
- 2010: Jimmie Johnson
- 2013: Jimmie Johnson
- 2016: Jimmie Johnson
- 2020: Chase Elliott
- 2021: Kyle Larson
- 2025: Kyle Larson
Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series championships by driver
- 7: Jimmie Johnson
- 4: Jeff Gordon
- 2: Kyle Larson
- 1: Terry Labonte, Chase Elliott