4 Takeaways From Cup Finale: Kyle Larson’s Triumph, Denny Hamlin’s Letdown

[ad_1] AVONDALE, Ariz. — Kyle Larson gained the 2025 NASCAR Cup Sequence title with out main a lap Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

Typically making the most of alternatives is the best way to win a championship, and Larson did simply that as he turned the 18th driver ever to win a number of Cup titles. Ryan Blaney, not one of many championship contenders, gained the race, whereas Denny Hamlin fell wanting an elusive title in heartbreaking style.

Listed here are my takeaways:

1. Larson Doesn’t Want To Lead

Benefiting from a late warning when Hendrick teammate William Byron blew a tire and hit the wall with lower than three laps remaining, Larson was amongst those that pitted for 2 tires whereas Hamlin — who had led 208 of the 312 laps till these pit stops — took 4.

That resulted in Larson restarting 5 spots forward of Hamlin. Larson was in a position to maintain on and end third whereas Hamlin was sixth. The irony wasn’t misplaced on Larson, who didn’t win within the ultimate 24 races of the season — whereas the three different finalists (Hamlin, Chase Briscoe and William Byron) had all gained within the semifinal spherical to earn spots within the four-driver championship subject.

The driving force who completed one of the best amongst them gained the title and that was Larson regardless of Hamlin's relative dominance and Byron main 52 laps and Briscoe main three.

"Actually, I can not consider it," Larson stated. "Like, we did not lead a lap immediately. In some way gained the championship."

Kyle Larson's three youngsters have fun in victory lane after Larson's 2025 title.

2. Hamlin Devastated

The postrace information convention with Hamlin was a kind of excruciating ones contemplating how painful this one needed to be for the 60-time Cup winner.

He's now 0-for-5 when qualifying for the championship spherical, and he additionally got here simply brief in 2010 within the earlier 10-race championship format. He no less than is aware of the format will change beginning subsequent 12 months (NASCAR gained’t announce a brand new format for no less than a number of weeks and presumably a few months), which could match extra in his wheelhouse.

Even his opponents might really feel for him. Blaney, the race winner: "That's racing. It sucks generally ... That they had the quickest race automobile right here. Simply a kind of issues the place it would not work out."

Denny Hamlin is left questioning what might have been at Phoenix.

3. Tire Points Plague Byron, Briscoe

All 4 of the championship finalists had a tire situation at one level. Briscoe had a few tires blow and was in a position to pit earlier than extra harm, whereas Byron had the unlucky crash on the finish.

Goodyear introduced a brand new left-side tire for this race, and the groups just about admitted the problems have been self-inflicted — the automobiles run sooner on decrease air pressures and the groups took dangers for velocity within the championship race.

Briscoe might need had a shot if he didn’t have his downside; Byron’s got here after it appeared that Hamlin was going to outrun him for the title. For Byron, arising brief for a 3rd consecutive 12 months needed to sting just a little greater than for Briscoe, in his first championship look.

A late tire situation derailed championship finalist William Byron's day.

4. Blaney Lastly Wins Phoenix

Blaney had completed second within the championship race in every of the final three years, together with 2023 when he gained the Cup title.

So for him, it was cool to win. And he was in a position to do it with out impacting the championship, fortunately forward of Larson for the complete two-lap time beyond regulation.

Blaney didn't advance to the championship spherical, however he wouldn’t play the what-if sport. That actually isn’t his type: "I would not say it is like bittersweet," he stated. "I’ll take pleasure in it identical to some other win."

Ryan Blaney wasn't within the Championship 4 however ended his season on a excessive be aware with a win.

4 ½. What’s subsequent?

The offseason, and positively nobody can use it greater than Hamlin. So far as Phoenix, when NASCAR returns in March 6-8, it will likely be the primary oval factors race with the brand new 750 horsepower package deal (the race Sunday was 670 horsepower). It additionally will function a weekend with INDYCAR racing Saturday as a part of a doubleheader with the O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence (the brand new title for what has been the Xfinity Sequence) adopted by Cup on Sunday.

And that is a wrap on the 2025 NASCAR season.

Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years overlaying motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Comply with him on Twitter @bobpockrass.