Kyle Larson secures third NASCAR Cup Series title at Homestead
A fourth-place finish in the opening stage, with neither Christopher Bell nor Denny Hamlin winning it, settled the championship before the race ended.
Kyle Larson secured the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship after the opening stage at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 8. The Hendrick Motorsports driver clinched his third Cup title with two stages still to run.
Larson needed nine points entering the race and placed fourth in Stage 1. Neither Christopher Bell nor Denny Hamlin won the stage, allowing Larson to settle the championship early. Tyler Reddick took the stage victory ahead of Ryan Blaney, while Hamlin finished sixth.
The stage ended three laps early following an engine failure for polesitter Chase Briscoe on the frontstretch. Briscoe had previously lost positions during a slow pit stop. The resulting caution initially kept Larson from passing Bell as they contested third place, but did not prevent Larson from clinching.
Larson had led Bell by just five points before his Talladega victory, with seven drivers within 56 points of first place and three races remaining. That win and his subsequent Martinsville performance set up the early clinch. Larson has won twice at Homestead, including the track's previous Cup race in 2025.
