Kyle Larson is the 2025 NASCAR Cup Sequence champion, outdueling Denny Hamlin throughout additional time of Sunday’s championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Whereas Larson is a deserving champion, as he completed the season with extra factors than any driver within the area, how he received it has prompted fairly an uproar.
Merely put, this was Hamlin’s race to lose. He led a championship race report 208 laps and had a wholesome lead over William Byron with three laps to go. Hamlin was closing in on his first championship till Byron immediately blew a tire, bringing out one closing warning. Larson and his workforce’s two-tire name was superior to Hamlin and his workforce’s name to go along with 4 tires. Larson created a sizeable hole between himself and Hamlin on the following restart, ending third to win the championship.
Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic noticed “no problem” in how the 2025 championship was determined. He cited Larson’s statistical benefits over Hamlin over the course of the season.
“Right now, we had a deserving champion in Kyle Larson,” Bianchi mentioned on The Teardown podcast. “We speak loads about statistics and numbers and the previous factors format — Denny was second to Kyle in lots of main statistical classes. Clearly, Denny had extra wins however even factors, Kyle outpointed Denny Hamlin. I’ve no problem with how the championship was determined immediately. Why? That is how NASCAR racing is on this period the place it’s a lot about late-race restarts and when that warning is gonna fall and technique and getting forward.
“Yeah, Denny Hamlin had the most effective automobile immediately however once more, on the season as an entire, Larson was nearly as good if not higher than Hamlin in most key statistical classes. Why would immediately, Denny Hamlin not profitable the championship, take away from Kyle Larson being a deserving champion?”
Kyle Larson was in disbelief after profitable 2025 championship
Larson didn’t lead a single lap at Phoenix. At one level, he blew a tire and went a lap down. He even admitted after the race he had an “common at greatest” No. 5 Chevrolet.
However Larson, now a two-time champion, stored battling. His workforce, led by crew chief Cliff Daniels, stored battling. They received all the pieces proper for the additional time restart and top-of-the-line drivers on this planet in Larson saved his greatest for these closing two laps.
“We did the most effective job we might,” Larson informed Marty Snider of NBC Sports activities. “… Truthfully, I can’t imagine it. Like, we didn’t lead a lap immediately and one way or the other received the championship. I’m simply speechless, I can’t imagine it. We had a mean automobile at greatest after which we had the suitable entrance go down, misplaced a lap.
“… Simply unbelievable. What a 12 months by this Hendrick Motorsports workforce. Cliff Daniels, his management simply confirmed that entire race. Conserving us all motivated, at all times having a plan, all of that. That’s simply the story of our season. Once more, unbelievable. I can’t imagine it. That is insane.”
