Kyle Larson wins 2026 NASCAR Cup championship with Stage 1 clinch at Homestead

Kyle Larson secured the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship with the conclusion of Stage 1 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Tyler Reddick claimed victory in the opening stage, while Larson secured fourth place, accumulating seven stage points. He was vying for third place alongside Christopher Bell when a caution flag was raised due to Chase Briscoe's engine failure.

Bell finished third in the stage, with Denny Hamlin taking sixth, which allowed Larson's fourth-place finish to clinch the title mid-race. This marks Larson as the 11th driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to win three championships, and the first to accomplish back-to-back titles since Jimmie Johnson's historic five-year run ended in 2010.

Hendrick Motorsports now boasts its 16th NASCAR Cup title, with Larson achieving this milestone in 2021, 2025, and 2026. Although there are still two-thirds of the Cup finale to race, Larson's focus remains on securing his fourth win in the final ten Chase races. Larson's journey to the championship began with a 50+ race winless streak, but he has since surged with victories at Gateway, Kansas, and Talladega.

Upon learning of his championship status via radio communication from crew chief Cliff Daniels, Larson remarked, "Okay, that was a little anticlimactic, but that's cool. Good job, guys." Kaden Honeycutt claimed the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship on Friday, while Justin Allgaier secured the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts title on Saturday.