Kyle Larson hoists the NASCAR Cup Series championship trophy with Steve Phelps, NASCAR Commissioner, at Phoenix. (Photo: Michael Donahue | The Podium Finish)
AVONDALE, Ariz. — Kyle Larson clinched his second NASCAR Cup Series championship Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Raceway, overcoming adversity and a late-race setback to secure the title for the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team.
Larson started third and ran competitively during long green-flag runs, but Denny Hamlin emerged as arguably the fastest driver on the track. Larson fell from eighth on the lead lap to 32nd, a lap down inside the final 100 laps due to a cut tire.
Using the wave-around to regain his lap and taking advantage of late cautions, Larson made a bold two-tire pit call ahead of a NASCAR Overtime restart. He finished third, three positions higher than Hamlin, enough to claim the championship.
“The first two-tire call, I didn’t know if it would be the right call. I’ll be honest, I didn’t have as much confidence that time. We just ran a long run, I was struggling. I thought with this softer tire, the lefts maybe were going to be not as strong as what they ended up being,” Larson said.
“Then when I went through that first restart, was kind of a ways back from the 19, just throttled up, and I got back alongside of him, ultimately passed him. Sure, yeah, I fell back to fifth. Guys on four tires passed me.”
“Yeah, I knew if we got another caution, give it any laps, that two tires in my mind is going to be a no-brainer. I hoped that Cliff was thinking the same way. Yeah, when the caution came out, I named off the code words. I was like, C’mon, say it. What he did. He did. I was like, Cool, we got a shot here.”
Larson reflected on the emotional significance of sharing the moment with his family.
Kyle Larson celebrates his second NASCAR Cup Series championship with his children, Owen, Cooper and Audrey, at Phoenix. (Photo: Danny Hansen | Nigel Kinrade Photography)
“It’s great. Have my family here and my kids. They love to celebrate, too,” Larson said. “Audrey, it’s been a while since I’ve won, and I’ll never forget the first thing she said to me. She was like, Dad, you finally won again. I was like, Kinda. Cooper wasn’t even born yet for our last one. I can’t wait to go take all the photos that we get to after this, update my iPad with him sitting in the Cup. Last time it was Audrey sitting in the Cup. We’ll throw him in the Cup.”
“Yeah, I got a lot of friends here, too, and family. I look forward to getting through all this and getting to hang out with them and celebrating because they’re all a big piece of it, too.”
Comparing the victory to his first championship in 2021, Larson noted the differences in challenge and team growth.
“Yeah, I mean, I think it means every bit as much as the first one. I thought that’s kind of how it would be. I didn’t anticipate obviously winning the championship in the fashion that we did today. So I think that takes it kind of another level up from what I thought it might feel like,” Larson said.
“Yeah, the first championship, we dominated the season, led tons of laps, all of the things that a champion should do. Everything kind of came easy back then. The championship race didn’t, but the season was. Today the season has been a challenge. Today was way more challenging even than that 2021 victory was. Hopefully I am fortunate enough to win other championships along the way. I think each would mean something different. Keep it equally as special. Yeah, this one was such a team win throughout the whole year, all of that, that I think I’ll never forget it for that, for sure.”
Crew chief Cliff Daniels highlighted the resilience of the team throughout the season.
“It’s an honor to hear that from Joey [Logano], a three-time champ, the 2024 champ. That’s something that I think has been built and bred into the culture of Hendrick Motorsports for many years, long before what we showcased on the 5. You think back to many magical moments with Hendrick Motorsports that were on the cusp of overcoming an obstacle, setback,” Daniels said.
“That’s really something that’s been put on us this year. Everyone, if you draw your season plans on the whiteboard, you don’t include all of the things that happened to us this summer, you don’t include the struggle, all the challenges. There was no other way. Now that I can see it fresh, but in the rearview mirror there was just no other way for us to get toughened up, gritty enough, determined enough to show that level of perseverance that is what the team showcased today.”
“It’s far more than just me, than Kyle. It’s all the men on the team, the support system they have at home, the hours and the grind and the resiliency to be able to show what we showed throughout the season, then especially to end the race today. I’m very grateful to be a part of a team and an organization and a group of people that all share that belief.”
Daniels also discussed the critical pit call that set Larson up for the finish.
“So something that I want to acknowledge, and I think these guys deserve a lot of credit, there’s a group of engineers, that one is here at the track, we have some others in the war room and on an intercom with me. Cal Stewart, Brian Ross, Shelton Ware, Nathan Woodby. kind of a team of guys that were on the intercom with me talking throughout the day. I’m going to give those guys the first bit of credit,” Daniels said.
“I can’t remember what place we were in at the time when the first caution came out that we took rights. They pushed me. Almost a no-brainer to do something different. I wanted to have a really fast, efficient, four-tire stop, gain a couple. We were going to restart probably in the top eight. That wasn’t going to be enough. Those guys are like, Hey, man, think about doing something different here. I give a lot of credit to those guys because they pushed me in that moment to see what you’re asking of that’s almost the call that we have to make to get ourselves up front and to give ourselves a shot.”
“Once we got the final caution, we knew it was going to be a green-white-checkered, that decision almost made itself because Kyle in our code words had already called it out to me, that told me he was already going to have confidence and belief if we did it, he felt he had enough under him to go drive his butt off and get it done. There was a lot that was powerful in the communication and the way that we went through that to make those calls. They were bold, but they were probably proper for the situation, and Kyle to have enough belief in it to go drive his butt off and get it done.”
Larson reflected on the validation of being recognized by fellow champions.
Kyle Larson becomes the third driver to win at least two NASCAR Cup Series championships while racing for Hendrick Motorsports. (Photo: Rusty Jarrett | The Podium Finish)
“Well, it feels cool because I don’t think there’s anybody, any team, better at it than Joey’s and the 22 team. This Playoff for us was as Joey Logano as it gets (smiling). Maybe not being the fastest, but our team getting us through it all, ultimately getting us the championship,” Larson said.
“It feels amazing to join him as well as the other multi-time champions. I’m really excited. I think one of the most special things, probably the most special thing about being a champion, is getting that book. I’m grateful to get my hands on it again, get to see what was written in the few years since I have won. Yeah, it’s going to be pretty neat. He’s a great champion. Hopefully I can carry myself as a great multi-time champion, as well.”
Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon and team owner Rick Hendrick admitted Larson’s comeback seemed unlikely late in the race.
“No,” Gordon said when asked if he thought the No. 5 could return from a lap down.
“No, no, no,” Hendrick said.
Gordon added, “I mean, got to be honest. At that point I really felt like they were out of it. But I was also listening on the radio. Cliff never wavered that they were out of it. I love that about him, his leadership. I think the spark to me was a couple cautions that kind of helped him stay in the game there. Them and the 19 were moving their way up there, kind of got stuck. They made the two-tire stop prior to the last one, right? When they were hanging in the top five, I heard Cliff going, We’re okay here, guys.”
“I don’t know exactly what he meant by that because we were running out of laps. But the car had speed, had balance. It wasn’t bad. Then when that last caution come out, I mean, William Byron, those guys, they had a great year, hate it for them because they’ve been in this position last three years, that being the caution. My first reaction was, Oh, no, man, the 24 has got a problem. Then I started hearing Cliff on the radio talk about, We’re definitely taking two. Don’t let me put those words in your mouth, but to me it sounded like there was no choice, no doubt. Then it just came down to how many are going to take two and what are the 11 going to do.”
Gordon and Daniels both praised Larson’s drive and composure. Daniels said the team’s growth mindset helped them overcome the challenges of the season.
Kyle Larson takes a victory lap at Phoenix as the 2025 and newest two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. (Photo: Michael Donahue | The Podium Finish)
“I would say that we do. Gosh, if there’s one thing that we’ve done well this year, it’s the growth mindset. You can never settle on what you accomplished yesterday. You can never settle on maybe what got you to a point. More than ever this year, again, in sports and in life, we all have a whiteboard, whether it’s in your mind or when you want to go compete or accomplish something, it’s the things that aren’t on the whiteboard that are the most important, the things that you don’t see coming, the challenges that you have to overcome. That’s what teaches you about your beliefs and your character and your resilience,” Daniels said.
“The things that were absolutely not on the whiteboard is what made the team this strong this season to be able to come here and overcome what was a pretty dismal day for a while. There’s going to be a lot of power in that message moving forward, which is your point. Something that was kind of on my mind through the summer and through the Playoffs is just continuing the growth mindset, what can we do to improve ourselves, our process, who we are. I told the team I want to be champions in life and racing in that order. If we do the life part right and take care of our families and each other and the team, hopefully the racing part takes care of itself.”
Gordon reflected on Larson’s career trajectory and his pursuit of multiple championships.
“Well, I have the utmost respect for his abilities behind the wheel. Couldn’t be more proud of the effort that Rick put into bringing him to Hendrick Motorsports. I’ve known Kyle for many, many years, watching him race Sprint cars. I always knew if you can put him behind the wheel of a Hendrick Motorsports car, he’d do special things,” Gordon said.
“I also believe that records and championships, they’re made to be broken. As long as he’s on our team, I want him to win 10 (smiling). He and I have a good relationship. I think being from California, close to one another, Elk Grove and Vallejo, the sprint car stuff. We built a good friendship. You motivate people in different ways. He motivates himself in measuring and looking at what’s the next goal, the trophy, the championship. I use it for him, too. Buddy, you got three to go. You’re only at one. You got to get to two before you can get to three, before you can get to four. We have a standing joke about, C’mon, come and get it. I hope he gets it and plenty more after that.”
Larson’s victory capped a season of resilience, strategic mastery, and team unity, earning him a second Cup championship and solidifying his place among NASCAR’s elite multi-time champions.
Editor’s Notes
Michele Aerin contributed to this long form feature story onsite from Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.
