PHOENIX — Elk Grove native Kyle Larson cemented his place among NASCAR’s modern greats Sunday night, clinching his second NASCAR Cup Series championship in four years with a commanding performance at Phoenix Raceway.
The 33-year-old driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet outpaced teammate William Byron, along with contenders Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe, to secure the 2025 title. Larson’s consistency, speed, and strategic execution carried him through the playoffs, culminating in a dominant finale that reinforced his reputation as one of racing’s most complete drivers.
The victory added another milestone to a standout year for Larson, who previously captured wins at Homestead-Miami, Bristol, and Kansas. His pit crew, led by crew chief Cliff Daniels, played a critical role throughout the season with flawless stops and well-timed strategy that kept the team at the top of the standings.
This marks Larson’s second career championship, following his 2021 triumph also with Hendrick Motorsports. He now joins Kyle Busch and Joey Logano as the only multi-time champions under NASCAR’s elimination-style playoff format. The victory continues Hendrick’s unparalleled success, with 15 Cup titles over 31 seasons and five different drivers contributing to that total.
Larson’s championship also underscores Chevrolet’s continued dominance in the sport, earning the manufacturer its 34th Cup Series driver title.
His road to Phoenix was one of grit and precision. After a challenging opening playoff round, Larson surged through the later stages on points, capped by a strong showing at Martinsville that locked him into the Championship 4. While he didn’t win a playoff race before the finale, his consistency and racecraft positioned him perfectly to seize the title when it mattered most.
Larson’s rise from dirt tracks to NASCAR glory has been nothing short of remarkable. Balancing both the NASCAR Cup Series and a start in the prestigious Indianapolis 500 this season, he demonstrated versatility and endurance rarely seen at the sport’s highest levels.
A native of Elk Grove in Sacramento County, Larson cut his teeth in auto racing locally, he won his first sprint car race at the age of 14 at Placerville Speedway at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds.
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