The Championship Chase looked set to be a snoozefest at Phoenix Raceway, with no driver within 48 points of the leader heading into the weekend. But holy smokes, did that ever flip on its head! That race ended with a jaw-dropping six drivers now sitting within 56 points of leader Kyle Larson, totally tightening things up as we head down the home stretch.
Larson’s Nightmare Day Hands Control to the Field
Kyle Larson, who started the day as our points leader, just couldn’t catch a break at Phoenix. He’d usually be a contender there, finishing third or fourth in six of the last seven races even when he didn’t feel like his car was perfect. But this time? Nope. The dude struggled from the jump, and his day ended a brutal 31 laps early, landing him in 34th place after a flat tire turned into a crash. Ouch. Larson was blunt after hitting the track medical center, saying, “It is what it is. It’s just part of racing.” He even admitted, “I’m not surprised. I think you guys thought I was lying to you all week when I said we weren’t good here. I didn’t expect to be good, but I didn’t expect to be that bad, either. We were just trying to fight as much as we could and just scratch and claw for whatever finish we could get.”
Now, his once-comfortable lead is basically gone. Larson’s clinging to a tiny five-point edge over Christopher Bell. Chase Briscoe is 24 points back, Hamlin is 31 back after finishing 28th, Ryan Blaney (who took second at Phoenix) is within 40 points, and Joey Logano (sixth at Phoenix) is 44 back. And then there’s our hero of the day, Tyler Reddick, 56 points off the lead after starting a massive 114 points behind! Larson knew it would get tight, stating, “I figured it would tighten up after today anyways, just based off history. Obviously, I wanted to finish to get the points we could. … I figured today would not be great and we would have to go next week and execute. So really, the plan hasn’t changed.”
Reddick Snaps the Skid and Gets Back in the Hunt
What a comeback for Tyler Reddick! The guy won five of the first nine races of the 2026 season, and then went on a crazy 23-race winless streak. Twenty-three races! But he finally put that behind him at Phoenix, driving into Victory Lane and throwing himself right back into the Chase mix. He restarted fourth in the race and then just absolutely went for it, breaking that dry spell and making the rest of the field sweat. That’s how you make a statement when the stakes are sky-high.
Hamlin’s Heartbreak Continues
Talk about a gut punch for Hamlin. The veteran, still chasing his first Cup title after 64 career wins, had another rough one at Phoenix. A flat tire put him a lap down, and then, to make it even worse, a caution came out just after he pitted. He would have gotten the free pass to get back on the lead lap, but he sped entering pit road because he was so focused on steering. You can only imagine the frustration. His 2026 Chase hasn’t even come close to mirroring his dominant regular season where he topped the standings. Hamlin, ever the stoic, shared, “Some things are meant to be, and some things are not meant to be. There have been so many cards that I’ve been dealt in my career in these playoffs or Chase. Nothing surprises me. I’m not shell-shocked because I’ve been here.” He also shot down any idea that low air pressures were a team issue with the tires. Still, it’s a tough break when you’re hunting that elusive first title.
With only three races left in the season , Talladega, Martinsville, and Homestead , this Championship Chase just went from a jog to a full-blown sprint. Larson is gunning for his third Cup title, but with Bell breathing down his neck and five other contenders making serious noise, every single lap is going to matter. Get ready, because this is going to be wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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