TC Daily Pit Stop: Kyle Larson Out-Strategies Denny Hamlin for Second Cup Title; Denny Hamlin 'Numb' After Another Championship Loss
TC Daily Pit Stop: Monday, November 3, 2025
Kyle Larson Out-Strategies Dominant Denny Hamlin for Second Title
In this winner-takes-all battle for the NASCAR Cup Series title, Kyle Larson was the highest-running of the Championship 4 for a total of seven laps in Sunday’s 319-lap Championship Race from Phoenix Raceway. That ended up being enough to clinch the championship for the Hendrick Motorsports driver.
Larson came across the start-finish line in third, losing out to both Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski in the race’s final rundown. The two Ford Racing drivers battled hard in the final set of corners, and at the line, were separated by only 0.097 seconds, awarding Blaney his fourth victory of 2025.
All of this late-race drama was set up by NASCAR Overtime, when Championship 4 driver William Byron suffered a right-front tire issue and got into the wall in Turn 4, drawing the caution. Setting up for a two-lap sprint to the finish, Blaney elected to take just two tires, as three drivers ahead stayed on the racetrack in hopes of stealing a victory in the season finale.
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RACE RESULTS
Denny Hamlin ‘Numb’ After Another Devastating Championship Loss
“Golly, in this moment, I never want to race a car ever again. I mean, my fun meter is pegged.”
After Sunday’s Championship Race at Phoenix, Denny Hamlin stood beside his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota on pit road, getting hugs from his family and speaking with crew chief Chris Gayle, as in the background, Kyle Larson celebrated his second NASCAR Cup Series title.
It wasn’t supposed to end this way for Hamlin, who found himself within 40-to-45 seconds of earning the biggest victory of his career, and, for the rest of his life, being acknowledged as a NASCAR Cup Series champion.
Then, William Byron blew a right-front tire, hit the wall, and drew a caution, bringing the winner-take-all contest — which looked pretty straightforward for the 44-year-old — into the NASCAR equivalent of extra innings in Game 7 of the World Series.
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Other NASCAR Headlines:
Kyle Larson Unbothered By Summer Slump Heading into Title Fight
Chase Briscoe Rejects Underdog Label in Cup Series Title Fight
Is the Third Championship 4 Appearance the Charm for William Byron?
Jesse Love Beats Best Friend Connor Zilisch for 2025 Xfinity Title
NASCAR Alters Eligibility Standards for O’Reilly, Truck Series in 2026
Corey Heim Makes Seven-Wide Move to Salvage Historic Championship Run
Riggs, Front Row Hindered By Pre-Qualifying Inspection Penalty
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