Kyle Larson clinched his third NASCAR Cup Series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway, joining an 11-driver group with at least three titles. The 34-year-old became NASCAR’s first back-to-back champion since Jimmie Johnson’s five-title run from 2006 to 2010. All three of Larson’s championships have come with Hendrick Motorsports and crew chief Cliff Daniels.

By the Numbers
  • 3 Cup titles for Larson: 2021, 2025 and 2026.
  • 11 drivers have won at least 3 Cup championships.
  • Larson entered the 10-race Chase as the seventh seed after a winless regular season.
  • He won Chase races at St. Louis, Kansas and Talladega.
  • At Homestead, Larson needed 8 stage points or a finish of 28th or better to clinch.
Yes, But

Larson’s title run included a major setback: he scored just 3 points at Phoenix after struggling and crashing. But wins at St. Louis, Kansas and Talladega, followed by a ninth-place finish at Martinsville, gave him enough of a cushion to control his fate at Homestead.

Bottom Line

Larson’s third championship underscores the strength of his partnership with Daniels and Hendrick Motorsports—and his team’s ability to rebound and peak when the title is on the line.