A dramatic NASCAR Cup finale at Phoenix Raceway led to a wild additional time restart. Denny Hamlin had dominated the occasion, however he was deep within the pack after a four-tire name on the ultimate pit cease.
Title rival Kyle Larson opted for 2, and the monitor place distinction was sufficient for the driving force of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, who captured his second his second NASCAR Cup title with a third-place end.
“We did the very best job we might,” smiled Larson. “That is the bracelet Owen made me. Actually, I can not consider it. Like, we did not lead a lap right now. Someway received the championship.
“I imply, actually, I am simply speechless. I can not consider it. We had a mean automotive at greatest. We had the proper entrance go down, misplaced a lap. Acquired saved by the warning. Did the wave-around. Was actually dangerous that run. We took two tires. I used to be like, Oh, God, right here we go. We’ll go to the again now.
“It had much more grip than I anticipated. We received fortunate with the ultimate warning. I used to be actually hoping we had been going to take two once more. I felt like I discovered loads on that restart, bombing one and two actually exhausting. Thought I might do the identical factor if we received one other one.
“Simply unbelievable. What a yr by this Hendrick Motorsports. Cliff Daniels, everyone, his management, his full management simply confirmed that complete race. Maintaining us all motivated. At all times having a plan. All of that. That is simply the story of our season.”
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photograph by: James Gilbert / Getty Photographs
Once more, simply unbelievable. I can not consider it. That is insane.
Hamlin completed sixth, and can finish the yr because the championship runner-up. Chase Briscoe completed 18th, taking third within the remaining standings, and Byron might be relegated to fourth after a late-race tire challenge.
“Yeah, nothing I can do completely different,” mentioned a dejected Hamlin. “Ready pretty much as good as I might coming into the weekend. My workforce gave me a improbable automotive. Simply did not work out. I used to be simply praying that no warning. Had one there.”
What are you able to do? Simply not meant to be.
Within the battle for the win, Ryan Blaney handed Brad Keselowski within the remaining nook to say victory for Crew Penske, becoming a member of Ross Chastain in 2023 as the one non-title contender to win the finale on this format. Blaney was eradicated from championship rivalry final race in Martinsville.
Stage 1
Hamlin skipped away with the race lead early, however Byron remained inside hanging distance. Watching from the Hendrick pit field, Jeff Gordon received animated as Byron briefly struggled to get round fellow Chevy Ty Dillon, who Byron was lapping.
As Hamlin encountered heavier site visitors, Byron made the go for the result in his exterior, taking the lead with seven laps to go within the stage.
Blaney, who was additionally surging on the long term, snatched second away from Hamlin. Byron went on to win Stage 1 with Blaney second and Hamlin third. Larson was fifth and Briscoe tenth.
Stage 2
Hamlin began complaining a few lengthy clutch, a problem that has plagued the No. 11 workforce all through the 2025 season.
Blaney received the race off pit street, and Briscoe additionally gained a number of spots. Hamlin jumped again forward of Byron on the restart as the primary pure warning flew for a spinning John Hunter Nemechek.
On the next restart, Hamlin then handed Blaney for the lead, and instantly checked out by a number of seconds. Larson additionally received round Byron for second on monitor, however he merely could not hold tempo with Hamlin.
Bubba Wallace abruptly slowed with a mechanical challenge, rising annoyed on the radio as he limped his No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota again to the pits. Wallace entered the finale attempting to hold onto tenth within the championship standings.
The warning flew 47 laps into the stage for Shane van Gisbergen spinning, however all of a sudden, there was drama for one of many title hopefuls. Briscoe suffered a flat proper rear tire whereas operating fifth. He additionally had a tire challenge throughout apply on Friday.
Hamlin maintained the lead off pit street (and nonetheless speaking about clutch points), whereas Briscoe rejoined the sector behind the lead lap vehicles. Sadly, he radioed that one thing was presumably bent and struggled to maintain up with the remainder of the pack.
Kyle Busch needed to pit below inexperienced with a flat proper rear tire. Quickly after, AJ Allmendinger slammed the surface wall with a minimize tire. This was his backup automotive, as he additionally wrecked in apply as a result of a flat tire in the identical nook.
The No. 19 appeared to come back again to life round this factors, gaining a lot of floor on pit street earlier than Briscoe charged again inside the highest ten on the restart.
Hamlin needed to fend off a quick Blaney within the closing laps of the stage, however their battle was interrupted for a stage-ending warning. Ty Dillon minimize a tire and spun into the wall, simply a few laps after his brother Austin pitted with a flat right-side tire.
Hamlin received Stage 2 below warning, adopted by Blaney and Byron. Larson was fourth and Briscoe had labored his manner again as much as seventh.
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Stage 3
The whole complexion of the race on pit street. Hamlin radioed that he could have a tire down, leading to a slower cease that dropped him to eleventh on monitor. Larson had a fair worse cease as they struggled to get a wheel tight, falling again to 18th.
Byron snatched the lead away on the restart, adopted by Chastain. The Trackhouse driver light because the run progressed, and Briscoe muscled him out of the best way for second earlier than chasing after Byron for the highest spot.
Nonetheless, chaos unfolded quickly after as Larson minimize down a tire and pitted below inexperienced. Quickly after, the identical destiny befell Briscoe. Each title challengers fell a lap down because the warning flew for a blown tire by Hocevar as properly, who really hit the wall.
With many lead drivers selecting to pit, Elliott received the race off pit street, with Blaney straight behind him. Byron and Hamlin had been set to line up on Row 2 side-by-side.
Elliott continued to guide as Hamlin stalked Byron. Again within the pack, Bowman pitted below inexperienced with a flat tire, adopted by Gragson.
Byron snatched the lead away from his teammate with 60 laps to go. Hamlin rapidly handed Elliott as properly, and proper earlier than the warning flew for a crash involving Austin Cindric.
Byron received the race off pit street, adopted by Elliott and Hamlin. Nonetheless, Elliott received a dashing penalty, which put Hamlin on the entrance row with Byron.
On the restart, Byron doored Hamlin, however couldn’t cease him from taking the lead away.
The eighth warning of the race flew for JJ Yeley, who had a flat tire as properly. Eager to protect a set, Larson and Briscoe each opted for two-tire calls, placing them out entrance for the restart.
The Championship 4 drivers had been now operating 1-2-3-4 for a restart with 28 laps remaining. It was pure chaos as Hamlin went three-wide for lead, passing each Briscoe and Larson as they made contact.
Byron then managed to go all of them, however Hamlin reduce below him to seize the lead away. Hamlin drove off, and appeared set to win all of it earlier than one more warning.
This time, it was Byron, who slammed the wall with a minimize tire. Whereas Hamlin pitted for 4 contemporary tires, Larson opted for 2 proper sides. A trio of vehicles stayed out, and Hamlin was caught again in tenth.
Sadly for Hamlin, he couldn’t make up the misplaced floor as Blaney received the race and Larson secured the title.
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