HOMESTEAD, Fla. — November 8, 2026. Kyle Larson has done it again. Behind the wheel of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Larson secured his third NASCAR Cup Series championship — and second straight — at Homestead-Miami Speedway, writing another chapter in an already remarkable racing career.
The surprising part? Larson didn't win a single race during the 26-race regular season. When NASCAR's 10-race Chase began, however, he and crew chief Cliff Daniels turned the No. 5 team into a title-winning force.
From Winless to Unstoppable
Larson entered the Chase fighting to turn speed into results. He finally snapped a 51-race winless streak at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis. As the championship battles intensified, he continued piling up points and strong finishes.
A difficult afternoon at Phoenix threatened to derail the campaign, shrinking his points lead to just five. But Larson responded with a dramatic Talladega victory, his first career Cup superspeedway win, and rebuilt a substantial advantage. By the time the series reached Homestead, he'd posted three victories in the Chase and was in commanding position.
The Title Was Decided Before the Checkered Flag
Larson entered the season finale with a 67-point advantage over Christopher Bell and a 70-point lead over Denny Hamlin. He needed only a small haul of points to put the championship out of reach.
A fourth-place finish in Stage 1 delivered seven valuable stage points and mathematically secured the title before the race was halfway finished. Larson went on to finish 12th, while Ryan Blaney passed Tyler Reddick late to win the race. The race trophy went to Blaney, but the season's biggest prize belonged to Larson.
Three Titles, Three Very Different Paths
Larson's championship years — 2021, 2025 and 2026 — each tell a different story. His 2021 season was a showcase of overwhelming dominance. His 2025 championship required seizing the right opportunity in a pressure-packed finale. In 2026, the difference was recovery: overcoming a frustrating regular season, bouncing back after setbacks and delivering when the Chase demanded it.
Larson is now the 11th driver to win at least three NASCAR Cup Series championships and the first to win back-to-back titles since Jimmie Johnson completed five consecutive championships in 2010. His latest achievement also gives Hendrick Motorsports a record-extending 16th Cup Series drivers' championship.
What This Championship Says About Racing
For fans, there's something special about a champion who has to fight through a season that doesn't go to plan. The No. 5 team wasn't perfect, but it was resilient. Every recovery, every stage point and every hard-earned finish mattered.
That is motorsports at its best: teams making adjustments, drivers digging deeper and one season-long fight coming down to execution under pressure.
From all of us at United Hotrods, congratulations to Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and Hendrick Motorsports on an incredible third Cup Series championship.
Reporting sources: NASCAR and Associated Press.