Kyle Larson becomes first back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series champion since 2010
Larson needed only nine points and earned them in Stage 1, sealing his third Cup title and second straight championship before the race ended.
- Kyle Larson clinched his third NASCAR Cup Series championship on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, securing the title during Stage 1. The Hendrick Motorsports driver became the first back-to-back champion since Jimmie Johnson in 2010.
- Entering the 400-mile season finale with a 67-point lead, Larson needed only nine points to secure the title. His fourth-place finish in Stage 1 provided those points; because Christopher Bell failed to win the stage, no rival could mathematically catch him.
- The 34-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver adds this 2026 title to championships from 2021 and 2025. He joins an elite list of 11 drivers with three Cup Series titles, including legends Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Johnson.
- Crew chief Cliff Daniels called the moment 'a little anticlimactic,' as the championship was decided before the race reached its halfway point. The result secured the title without a last-lap battle, defying expectations for NASCAR's biggest race.
- Retired NASCAR driver and NBC Sports race analyst Jeff Burton considers Larson 'the best race car driver in the world,' citing his versatility across different disciplines. Burton notes he competes against top talent in every series he enters.
58 Articles
58 Articles
Kyle Larson wins 2nd consecutive Cup Series title, becomes the 11th NASCAR driver with 3 titles
Kyle Larson is now a three-time NASCAR champion after clinching his third Cup Series title in six years early in the 400-mile season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday.
Kyle Larson Claims 2026 NASCAR Championship Title After Toyota’s Shocking Stage 1 Engine Blowup
Kyle Larson officially joined NASCAR’s three-time Cup Series champion club after securing the 2026 title at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Toyota appeared poised to dominate the Homestead finale after sweeping the top three qualifying positions, with Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick leading the way. But the manufacturer’s strong starting position did not guarantee an advantage […]
HOMESTEAD, Florida, USA (AP) — Kyle Larson is now three-time NASCAR series champion.
Kyle Larson wins 2026 NASCAR Cup championship at Homestead
Kyle Larson becomes first back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series champion sinc
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Kyle Larson becomes first back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series champion since 2010. THIS IS AN APNewsAlert. Check back for updates. AP’s earlier story is below. Kyle Larson is on the verge of becoming a
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