Kyle Larson captured his third NASCAR Cup Series championship on Sunday, clinching the 2026 title during the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida. The 34-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver secured his second consecutive championship after finishing fourth in the opening stage, earning seven points that put the title out of reach of his closest competitors, Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin.

Larson entered the finale with a 67-point advantage and needed only eight points to mathematically secure the championship. His Stage 1 finish, combined with the points guaranteed for completing the race, eliminated any possibility of Bell or Hamlin catching him. The championship was settled well before the checkered flag, allowing Larson to focus on completing the race.

Larson ultimately finished 12th after making contact with the outside wall. Ryan Blaney won the race with a late pass on Tyler Reddick, overtaking him with two laps remaining to take the checkered flag by 0.314 seconds. Bell finished fourth and Hamlin sixth, leaving Larson 49 points ahead of Bell and 56 ahead of Hamlin in the final championship standings.

The championship capped a dramatic turnaround for Larson, who went winless throughout the 26-race regular season before dominating the 10-race Chase. He recorded three victories during the postseason, helping him secure another title despite the slow start to the year.

Larson's victory gave Hendrick Motorsports its record 16th NASCAR Cup Series championship. He also became the 11th driver in series history to win at least three titles, joining an elite group that includes Richard Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Tony Stewart and Joey Logano. His previous championships came in 2021 and 2025.