Dude, you gotta be kidding me. Kyle Larson just went out there and straight-up *snagged* his third Cup Series championship like it was nothing. Even wilder, he wasn’t even the one who crossed the finish line first at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday. Ryan Blaney took the checkered flag in the final NASCAR Cup Series Championship race, but the day undeniably belonged to Kyle Larson, who locked up his second straight title, and third overall, way back in Stage 1.
Larson’s Untouchable Lead Paved the Way
Larson finished 12th in the Sunday race, which, let’s be real, didn’t even matter. Why? Because he rolled into that final competition with such a massive lead in the Cup Series points standings that he barely needed to break a sweat. By the time Stage 1 ended under caution, with Larson sitting comfortably in fourth position, the championship was his. Just like that, the trophy was going home with Hendrick Motorsports. Think about that: Blaney earned his second straight win in the Championship final race, but the entire event was a victory lap for Larson from the jump.
A Season of Dominance and Breaking Records
This isn’t just about one race; it’s about a season-long masterclass from Larson. He racked up three wins and 21 top-10 finishes throughout 2026. He landed in the top five a staggering 15 times, which is exactly how you maintain a stranglehold on the points standings. And let’s not forget the man broke a 51-race winless streak at Gateway on September 13. Talk about momentum building at the right time!
Here’s the final look at those standings:
* Kyle Larson – 2,501 points
* Christopher Bell – 2,452
* Denny Hamlin – 2,445
* Ryan Blaney – 2,407
* Tyler Reddick – 2,397
* Chase Briscoe – 2,386
* Joey Logano – 2,386
* William Byron – 2,344
* Ty Gibbs – 2,335
* Austin Cindric – 2,306
* Bubba Wallace – 2,293
* Chase Elliott – 2,287
* Daniel Suarez – 2,243
* Carson Hocevar – 2,234
* Ryan Preece – 2,226
* Chris Buescher – 2,212
This back-to-back championship run by Larson is straight-up historic. He’s the first driver to pull off consecutive titles since Jimmie Johnson did it back in 2009 and 2010. And with three career Cup Series titles now under his belt, Larson joins an elite club of just 11 drivers who have achieved that feat or more. We’re talking about names like Johnson, Joey Logano, Tony Stewart, Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, Lee Petty, Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt. That’s serious company.
Larson didn’t just win a championship, he etched his name into the annals of NASCAR history. What an absolute legendary performance!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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