Kyle Larson reacts to beating Denny Hamlin to win NASCAR Cup Series Championship

Kyle Larson had a classy reaction to winning the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship over Denny Hamlin at Phoenix Raceway. While speaking to MRN Radio after the race, Larson said he felt bad for Hamlin, who led over 200 laps.

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t sad for him,” Kyle Larson said. Larson finished third in the race, while Denny Hamlin finished sixth. Those two were part of the Championship 4 along with Chase Briscoe (P18 finish) and William Byron (P33).

It looked like Hamlin was on his way to winning his first Cup Series championship, as he led 208 laps. But Byron got a flat tire during the final laps of the race, and that triggered overtime. Larson was ahead all Championship 4 drivers during the overtime restart and secured the title.

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The 2025 season was an interesting one for Larson. The 33-year-old has won three races this season, but his last victory came at Kansas in May. During the playoffs, Larson finished in the top 10 in six of the 10 races, and four of the finishes were in the top five.

“We did the best job we could,” Larson said after the championship race on Sunday. “Honestly, I can’t believe it. Like, we didn’t lead a lap today. Somehow won the championship. I mean, really, I’m just speechless. I can’t believe it. We had an average car at best. We had the right front go down, lost a lap. Got saved by the caution.”

Hamlin expressed his disappointment after coming up short.  “Yeah, nothing I can do different. Prepared as good as I could coming into the weekend,” he said. “My team gave me a fantastic car. Just didn’t work out. I was just praying that no caution. Had one there. What can you do? Just not meant to be.”

Hamlin, Larson, and the rest of the NASCAR drivers will now rest and get ready for the 2026 season, which begins in February. The season will officially start on Feb. 15, with the Daytona 500.