Main Story: NASCAR upheld Kyle Larson’s Talladega win, saying his tire never went fully below the double-yellow line. The rule requires a driver to cross the line, improve position and not be forced down to earn a penalty. Denny Hamlin called the officiating—or NASCAR’s explanation of it—“horrible,” while NASCAR official Mike Forde defended the crew.

By the Numbers
  • 2 races remain in the 2026 season.
  • 3 conditions factor into a double-yellow-line penalty: crossing the line, improving position and not being forced down.
Yes, But

Hamlin challenged NASCAR’s handling of the call and its communication. Forde said the decision was based solely on officials’ judgment that Larson’s tire remained on the line—not on his position, the push from another car or championship considerations.

Bottom Line

NASCAR’s rule sets a clear threshold, but the call ultimately rests on officials’ judgment about where the tire was. The decision stands; the disagreement over how it was explained does not.