AVONDALE, Ariz. — Kyle Larson denied Denny Hamlin his first profession championship when a late warning at Phoenix Raceway despatched the title-deciding finale into additional time.
Hamlin was three laps from shedding the label as the best NASCAR driver to by no means win a championship when fellow title contender William Byron received a flat tire and hit the wall to convey out the warning.
Hamlin led the sector down pit highway and received 4 new tires on his Toyota; Larson solely took two tires on his Chevrolet. It meant Larson was fifth for the two-lap dash to the end, with Hamlin again in tenth.
With so little time to run down Larson, Hamlin got here up quick with a sixth-place end as Larson was third. Ryan Blaney, who was eradicated from title competition final week, received the race.
It’s the second championship for Larson, who received his first title in 2021 when he joined Hendrick Motorsports.
