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Kyle Larson, Chase Briscoe blow tires late in Championship 4 race at Phoenix

JHby: Jonathan Howard11/02/25Jondean25
Kyle Larson NASCAR Phoenix tires
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Disaster! Kyle Larson and Chase Briscoe suffered flat tires on back-to-back laps under green with less than 100 laps to go. The Championship 4 hopes of the 19 team and the 5 team are likely over now. That leaves William Byron and Denny Hamlin to battle for the NASCAR championship.

Kyle Larson had fallen to P18 on the last set of pit stops. He raced his way back up into the top-10 and was looking like he could make a run for the top-five again. Chase Briscoe fell to P32 with a flat tire earlier in the race, but bounced back to reach P2 before his second flat.

We knew that tires were going to be a major factor. Now, we could have a two-car battle down the stretch for the race win and the championship. Credit these drivers for not wrecking their cars. That could end up being the only reason either of them gets back towards the front.

Chase Briscoe has had three flat tires between practice and the race. Two of those have happened today. This time, Briscoe believes he hit debris on the track to cause his flat.

Kyle Larson wins NASCAR championship without leading a lap

Well, shows what I know. In an unbelievable result, Kyle Larson managed to fight his way back to the front of the field. He did more than that; he went out and won the NASCAR Cup Series championship to become a two-time champ.

After Denny Hamlin led 208 laps today, more than any championship driver before him, it was all for naught. He had the best car, made amazing moves on the track, and it looked like he was ready to fulfill his destiny and win a Cup championship.

William Byron suffered a tire failure with three laps to go in the race. It caused an overtime restart that ultimately changed how this championship ended. Hamlin had blown by Larson with four fresh tires on the restart before. Chris Gayle gave him four pumped-up tires compared to the two tires of everyone else.

For one reason or another, the tires didn’t stick. Larson also had track position on Hamlin, starting five spots ahead of the 11. With the track position and a just enough grip, Larson ran away from Hamlin to take the title.