# Kyle Larson Clinches Third NASCAR Cup Title at Homestead

A fourth-place finish in the opening stage secured Larson’s second consecutive championship before the season finale was over.

By Will Langan | 24X7 News
Published: 2026-11-08T23:00:02.785Z
Updated: 2026-11-08T23:00:02.785Z
Section: Sports
Format: News
Canonical: https://24x7news.us/articles/kyle-larson-third-nascar-cup-title-homestead-november-8-2026

Kyle Larson clinched the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship during Sunday’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida, securing his third career title and second in a row.

The championship was settled at the conclusion of the opening stage on November 8, rather than by the final race result. Larson finished fourth in that stage and collected seven points, enough to put the title beyond the reach of his remaining rivals.

Christopher Bell finished third in the stage, while Denny Hamlin placed sixth. Although Bell remained within the number of points theoretically available, Larson was guaranteed an additional point for his eventual finishing position, completing the mathematical clinch.

Tyler Reddick won the opening stage. The race itself continued after Larson secured the championship, so the title announcement should not be confused with a victory in the Homestead race.

Larson entered the finale with a commanding points advantage after a strong postseason. He had gone through the entire 26-race regular season without a victory, then won three of the previous nine Chase events and finished in the top 10 in eight of them.

The comeback followed a 51-race winless stretch. His late-season improvement put the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in position to settle the championship before the final checkered flag.

This season’s Chase used a single points reset followed by 10 races without eliminations. That cumulative format allowed Larson’s postseason results and Sunday’s stage points to decide the title early.

The championship adds to Larson’s titles from 2021 and 2025 and gives Hendrick Motorsports its 16th Cup championship. He becomes the series’ first consecutive champion since Jimmie Johnson’s run ended in 2010.

## Sources
- NASCAR — Championship Clinch and Chase Background: https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2026/11/08/kyle-larson-claims-third-cup-title-after-a-chase-run-for-the-ages/
- NASCAR — Running Homestead Stage Results: https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2026/11/08/cup-series-2026-homestead-miami-championship-race-results-recap/
- Associated Press — Championship and Postseason Results: https://apnews.com/article/b684d52d336492b1ab3f17c21c1fa5e8