NASCAR insider declares he has 'no issue' with how Kyle Larson 2025 NASCAR championship was decided

Kyle Larson is the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series champion, outdueling Denny Hamlin during overtime of Sunday’s championship race at Phoenix Raceway. While Larson is a deserving champion, as he finished the season with more points than any driver in the field, how he won it has caused quite an uproar.

Simply put, this was Hamlin’s race to lose. He led a championship race record 208 laps and had a healthy lead over William Byron with three laps to go. Hamlin was closing in on his first championship until Byron suddenly blew a tire, bringing out one final caution. Larson and his team’s two-tire call was superior to Hamlin and his team’s call to go with four tires. Larson created a sizeable gap between himself and Hamlin on the ensuing restart, finishing third to win the championship.

Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic saw “no issue” in how the 2025 championship was decided. He cited Larson’s statistical advantages over Hamlin over the course of the season.

“Today, we had a deserving champion in Kyle Larson,” Bianchi said on The Teardown podcast. “We talk a lot about statistics and numbers and the old points format — Denny was second to Kyle in many major statistical categories. Obviously, Denny had more wins but even points, Kyle outpointed Denny Hamlin. I have no issue with how the championship was decided today. Why? This is how NASCAR racing is in this era where it’s so much about late-race restarts and when that caution is gonna fall and strategy and getting ahead.

“Yeah, Denny Hamlin had the best car today but again, at the season as a whole, Larson was as good if not better than Hamlin in most key statistical categories. Why would today, Denny Hamlin not winning the championship, take away from Kyle Larson being a deserving champion?”

Kyle Larson was in disbelief after winning 2025 championship

Larson did not lead a single lap at Phoenix. At one point, he blew a tire and went a lap down. He even admitted after the race he had an “average at best” No. 5 Chevrolet.

But Larson, now a two-time champion, kept battling. His team, led by crew chief Cliff Daniels, kept battling. They got everything right for the overtime restart and one of the best drivers in the world in Larson saved his best for those final two laps.

“We did the best job we could,” Larson told Marty Snider of NBC Sports. “… Honestly, I can’t believe it. Like, we didn’t lead a lap today and somehow won the championship. I’m just speechless, I can’t believe it. We had an average car at best and then we had the right front go down, lost a lap. 

“… Just unbelievable. What a year by this Hendrick Motorsports team. Cliff Daniels, his leadership just showed that whole race. Keeping us all motivated, always having a plan, all of that. That’s just the story of our season. Again, unbelievable. I cannot believe it. This is insane.”