The 2025 NASCAR Awards will occur Tuesday evening in Scottsdale, Arizona, capping off a thrilling 2025 NASCAR season that will be remembered for the ages. This prestigious ceremony, most recently held in Charlotte, North Carolina, will take place in Arizona for the first time in the event’s history, reflecting NASCAR’s continued commitment to delivering memorable experiences to new markets.
While the venue may be different from years past, fans will still have the opportunity to join in on the celebrations. You can watch this year’s edition on The NASCAR Channel, beginning at 6:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday with the 2025 NASCAR Awards Red Carpet Show, followed by the Awards Show at 7 p.m. ET. The NASCAR Channel is currently available on Tubi, Xumo Play, Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel and Prime Video.
Before the ceremony, learn more about the key awards and recognitions that will be honored throughout the event, in addition to celebrating the sport’s champions.
The Comcast Community Champion of the Year is awarded to an individual in the NASCAR industry for their service-focused efforts to make the world a better place. Daniel Dye is the 2025 recipient.
The National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Most Popular Driver Award will be honored across all three national series.
Chase Elliott is aiming to capture the Cup Series honor for an eighth consecutive year, while Justin Allgaier (Xfinity Series) and Rajah Caruth (Craftsman Truck) will both look to claim the hardware once again after triumphing in 2024.
The Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award recognizes the efforts of those who make a difference in children’s lives through local children’s organizations. This year’s finalists include John Grieshaber (Wilmington, Delaware), Gregg Morton (Bradenton, Florida), Kate O’Neal (Hazel Green, Alabama) and Hannah Smith (Richmond, Virginia).
Finally, the NMPA Myers Brothers Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to stock car racing.
It’s time to rev up those streaming engines and tune in to the always-on NASCAR Channel, which is streaming on Xumo Play, Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Prime, Amazon Fire TV, The Roku Channel and Tubi. The NASCAR Channel is also available on NASCAR.com.
Keep reading to learn how you can access the NASCAR Channel 24/7.
WHAT IS THE NASCAR CHANNEL?
The NASCAR Channel is a FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) channel. Programming includes live events, 2025 full race replays, classic NASCAR races and more. The NASCAR Channel will also air original programming, including timely content like Kid Racers, in addition to original documentaries and much more.
HOW CAN I WATCH THE NASCAR CHANNEL?
You can watch The NASCAR Channel on your TV or mobile device by downloading Xumo Play, Amazon Prime, Amazon Fire TV, The Roku Channel and Tubi, or on Samsung devices with Samsung TV Plus.
Yes, the NASCAR Channel is free to watch on our partner platforms. No subscription or registration is required. Just open the app on your partner platform of choice (see links above) and start watching now.
WHEN DID THE NASCAR CHANNEL LAUNCH?
The NASCAR Channel launched Jan. 29, 2025 with Tubi, and has since expanded to additional distributors.
In addition to national, regional and track championships, each season, the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series also crowns champions at the state and provincial level.
This year, 28 drivers secured state or provincial championships at venues across the United States and Canada. Below is a closer look at every state and provincial champion from the 2025 season.
Racing in the Late Model class at Alaska Raceway Park, Jeremy Copley made eight starts and scored five victories this year to capture the Alaska state championship for the first time.
Alberta: Cameron Medd
Capturing the Alberta provincial championship for the second straight year is Cameron Medd, who scored four feature wins at Edmonton International Raceway on his way to the Late Model track title.
Arizona: Dylan Jones
Racing in the Super Late Model division at Tucson Speedway, Dylan Jones nabbed five wins in 15 starts on his way to the Arizona state crown. It’s his second Arizona state title and first since 2022.
California: Kenna Mitchell
Kenna Mitchell split her time between All American Speedway and Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway this year. She nabbed a pair of wins at All American on her way to the Limited Pro Late Model track title as well as her first California state title.
Colorado: Michael Scott
A native of Wyoming, Michael Scott spent his season racing at Colorado National Speedway. In nine feature starts, he won four times, which helped him capture the Colorado state championship for the first time.
Florida: Gavan Boschele
A strong start was all Gavan Boschele needed to secure the Florida state championship this season. Boschele made six starts at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing in February. He won three times on his way to the Super Late Model title during the annual event as well as his first Florida state title.
Idaho: Brendon Fries
Racing in the Modified division at Idaho’s Meridian Speedway, Brendon Fries bagged three wins in 17 starts. A strong season that saw him finish in the top 10 in every race allowed him to capture the track title, the Idaho state title and the West Region Division I championship. The Idaho state crown is his second in three years.
Illinois: Ricky Baker
Ricky Baker made the most of his 13 starts this year at Grundy County Speedway. He won four times and never finished outside the top 10 on his way to his first Illinois state championship.
Iowa: Josh Cooper
Racing in Adams County Speedway’s ultra-competitive Modified class, Josh Cooper triumphed four times in 15 starts this year on his way to the track title. That success allowed him to claim his first Iowa state championship in 2025.
Massachusetts: Jacob Burns
Jacob Burns enjoyed a strong season at Massachusetts’ Seekonk Speedway that saw him win three times and 14 starts while never finishing outside the top 10. As a result, he clinched his first Massachusetts state championship.
Michigan: Austin Hull
Austin Hull enjoyed a breakout year in Berlin Raceway’s premier Super Late Model division in 2025. He won the track championship and the prestigious TEKTON 250 Battle at Berlin, both of which helped him secure the Michigan state crown for the first time.
Minnesota: Chris Marek
Chris Marek was the man to beat this season in Elko Speedway’s Late Model division. He won three times and captured the track championship to go along with his first Minnesota state championship.
Missouri: Ryan Gillmore
There is domination, and then there is what Ryan Gillmore did this year at Monett Motor Speedway. In 16 starts at the Missouri dirt track, Gillmore won 13 times to claim the B Modified track title as well as his first Missouri state championship.
Nevada: Cody Brown
Racing in the Pro Late Model class at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Cody Brown nabbed an impressive five wins from March to September to secure his first Nevada state championship.
New Hampshire: Brian Robie
Splitting time between Claremont Motorsports Park and Monadnock Speedway turned out to be a good choice for Brian Robie, who won track titles at both venues this year. He won 12 features between the two tracks in addition to his second New Hampshire state title.
New York: John Beatty Jr.
For the second consecutive season, John Beatty Jr. proved to be the king of New York. Racing in the Modified class at Riverhead Raceway, he scored one win, eight top fives and 10 top 10s to capture the track title and the New York state title.
Newfoundland and Labrador: Sarah Thorne
Racing in Eastbound International Speedway’s Sportsman division, Sara Thorne secured three wins in seven events to capture the track title and her first Newfoundland and Labrador provincial championship.
North Carolina: Brandon Ward
The champion of Bowman Gray Stadium’s headlining Modified class, Brandon Ward earned three wins this season to narrowly claim his first North Carolina state crown by two points ahead of fellow Bowman Gray competitor Tim Brown.
Ohio: Aidan Hinds
In his first season of racing in Limaland Motorsports Park’s Modified division, Aidan Hinds bagged three wins, the track championship and his first Ohio state championship.
Oklahoma: Mitch Keeter
Making the drive to Oklahoma from his home in Missouri, Mitch Keeter won eight times in 14 starts on his way to the Salina Highbanks Speedway B Modified championship. He also claimed his second Oklahoma state title and first since 2017.
Ontario: Jeramy Curtis
Jeramy Curtis bagged one win and never finished outside the top five this season at Ontario’s Grand Bend Speedway. He claimed the Late Model track title as well as the Ontario provincial championship.
Oregon: Toby McIntyre
Toby McIntyre continues to be the man to beat in the state of Oregon after he captured the Street Stock title at Coos Bay Speedway as well as his third consecutive Oregon state championship in 2025.
Pennsylvania: Barry Awtey
For the first time ever, a Jennerstown Speedway driver has captured the Pennsylvania state title. The honor goes to Barry Awtey, who won three times in Jennerstown’s Late Model class to win the track title as well as the Pennsylvania state title by two points ahead of Grandview Speedway’s Duane Howard.
Quebec: David Hébert
David Hébert continues to be among the best in the province of Quebec. Racing in the 358 Modified class at Autodrome Granby and Le RPM Speedway, Hébert won the Northeast Region Division I championship as well as his fourth consecutive Quebec provincial championship.
Tennessee: Zeke Shell
Competing in Kingsport Speedway’s Late Model class, Zeke Shell triumphed 13 times and never finished outside the top 10 in 23 starts. That allowed him to claim his second Tennessee state title and first since 2018.
Virginia: Chase Johnson
Chase Johnson was almost unbeatable in the Late Model class at Dominion Raceway this year. He won 15 times in 26 starts and easily claimed the track title, NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Josten’s Rookie of the Year Award, the Southeast Region Division I title and the Virginia state title.
Washington: Naima Lang
For the ninth time in his career, Naima Lang has captured the Washington state title. Competing at Evergreen Speedway, he won twice in nine starts to also capture the track’s Pro Late Model championship.
Today, Comcast announced NASCAR driver Daniel Dye as the 2025 Comcast Community Champion of the Year, becoming the 11th champion to receive the prestigious annual award. Comcast will award $60,000 to Dye for Race to Stop Suicide, which was established in 2018 to break the stigma around mental health and suicide.
“I’m super proud that this mission is getting talked about more — it means a lot to me, to my family, and to our communities,” Dye said. “Being named the Comcast Community Champion is a big deal, and the fact that we’re able to raise more awareness is really what it’s all about. This isn’t a race you can ever truly win, but we’re doing everything we can to run up front and be leaders in this mission.”
At just 14 years old, Dye turned unimaginable loss into action after losing his cousin to suicide. From that moment, his mission was clear: use his platform to spark life-saving conversations and help end the silence around mental health. That mission became Race to Stop Suicide, a now-national nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness, providing resources and bringing hope to individuals and families in times of need.
Through community outreach, school visits, church events and speaking engagements across the country, Daniel has opened the door for difficult but necessary conversations. With the support of his father, Randy Dye, and a growing team of advocates, he has built a movement that’s saving lives and breaking down stigma at every turn.
As his racing career has taken off, so has the reach of his message. Dye’s advocacy is front and center on his No. 10 Chevrolet with Kaulig Racing, which featured custom Race to Stop Suicide paint schemes during both Mental Health Awareness Month in May and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September. From World Wide Technology Raceway to Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, his message has traveled internationally, turning every lap into a platform for hope.
“Daniel represents exactly what the Comcast Community Champion of the Year was created to honor,” said Matt Lederer, Vice President of Brand Partnerships and Amplification at Comcast. “He’s not just raising awareness; he’s driving a movement that’s changing lives. Through honesty, compassion and a deep commitment to mental health advocacy, Daniel has built something far bigger than himself. He’s using his platform to give others a voice, and that kind of leadership is both rare and deeply inspiring. We are proud to name Daniel Dye as the 2025 Comcast Community Champion of the Year.”
Dye was selected by a panel of Comcast and NASCAR executives, including 2024 Comcast Community Champion Erik Jones, who was honored last year for his work supporting early cancer screening and detection, reading literacy and animal welfare.
In addition to the winner, this year’s finalists were recognized for their outstanding contributions to their communities. Jerry Caldwell, President, Bristol Motor Speedway, will receive a $30,000 donation to Speedway Children’s Charities — Bristol Chapter, which supports children across 18 counties. Wayne Auton, Former NASCAR Xfinity Series Director, will receive a $30,000 donation to The Corner Table, which ensures thousands of children and neighbors have consistent access to nutritious meals and support.
Since its inception in 2015, the Comcast Community Champion of the Year program has donated over $1 million to 33 nonprofit organizations, amplifying the efforts of NASCAR community members who dedicate their time and energy to helping others. Comcast remains committed to strengthening communities, leveraging its resources to drive positive and lasting change.
To learn more about Comcast’s community impact and partnerships, visit Comcast Community Impact.
AVONDALE, Ariz. – Denny Hamlin was three laps away from his championship moment. Instead, he left Phoenix Raceway with perhaps his worst heartbreak yet.
The 44-year-old veteran led a staggering 208 laps from pole position in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race, set the fastest lap and was out front when a late caution pushed the event to overtime. But Hamlin ultimately finished sixth, second in the championship fight as Kyle Larson surged late to score his second Cup Series title.
Hamlin had been on the precipice of a championship before, most notably in 2010 when he fell runner-up to Jimmie Johnson, coupled with four Championship 4 appearances since 2016 before Sunday. But never had he dominated a title race in which he could win the title, leading a combined 52 laps in his four prior attempts.
In the final run of regulation, Hamlin led 28 consecutive laps, including Lap 312, the scheduled distance. But the caution flag waved at Lap 309 for fellow Championship 4 contender William Byron, who was running second when he suffered a tire issue entering Turn 3 and crashed into the retaining SAFER barrier.
Under caution, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Preece and Alex Bowman stayed out on old tires while six others opted to take right-side tires only. Hamlin was the first off pit road to take four tires, but that slotted him 11th in the running order.
Larson restarted on the outside lane in Row 3 while Hamlin chose the bottom of the race track in Row 5, hoping to more easily make ground in Turns 1 and 2. Larson instead prevailed to take the checkered flag third, highest of the title contenders and hoist his second Bill France Cup while Hamlin was mired in sixth.
The emotions were palpable as he wheeled the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to a stop on pit road, taking a full minute-and-a-half to climb from the vehicle as he reflected on what was his best opportunity yet to win a championship.
Eighteen minutes later, he sat inside the media center, still trying to process his latest gut-punch.
“I really don’t have much for emotion right now,” Hamlin said. “Just numb about it because I’m just in shock.”
While Hamlin was numb, those closest to him felt the heartbreak firsthand. Fiancée Jordan Fish was the first to meet Hamlin after his exit, greeting him with a tearful embrace as Hamlin leaned upon his race car. Following her was crew chief Chris Gayle, who immediately placed his hand on Hamlin’s shoulder and offered words of encouragement. Later, Hamlin was joined by his young daughters, Taylor and Molly, both crying as they absorbed the weight of the moment.
In that moment, the man who probably needed the most consoling at Phoenix Raceway had to snap back into fatherhood to console his children.
“It’s just something (that) will be one of those life lessons years down the road,” Hamlin said.
Each championship-winning scenario is different, but this one was particularly unique because of how close he was in such a dominating fashion.
“We were 40 seconds from a championship. It’s just unfortunate,” Hamlin said. “The only difference before is the cautions came maybe a little sooner than that, but I don’t know. It’s just … gosh. You work so hard. It’s just this sport can drive you absolutely crazy because it’s just that sometimes speed, talent, all that stuff just does not matter.”
Hamlin, who earned his historic 60th career victory on Oct. 12 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to lock him into the Championship 4, has also expressed his 75-year-old father Dennis is in ailing health, telling the Associated Press this week: “I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him going and never getting to see the moment.”
The results will show Hamlin fell short at Phoenix, but the strength Hamlin showed in his latest championship fight will reign supreme within his family. Simply, the message Hamlin had for his father is: “I did the best I could.”
“Everything I really prepared for happened today,” Hamlin said. “And I felt like we responded, losing track position at one point and just battling back. Did really well on restarts; hadn’t been good on restarts for the bulk of the year.
“The team brought a great championship car, and I felt like I drove it just right up until two laps to go. This is the part that stinks.”
On pit road, moments after being comforted by Fish and Gayle and in his own moment of defeat, Hamlin walked to his pit box to greet his pit-crew members and embrace them.
“They did a great job,” Hamlin said. “We had one hiccup, but it wasn’t their fault. We got fortunate with the left-rear tire that was flat under caution (at Lap 188). They executed a great day. Man, I really wish I could have got it for them.
“While the championship … It wouldn’t have changed anything I felt truly about myself. I just wanted it so bad for everyone else, all of my supporters, all my friends and family, and whatnot. They want it so bad. Just not going to happen.”
In his first year atop the pit box with Hamlin, Gayle led the No. 11 team to its first Championship 4 appearance since 2021 and to its most wins (six) since 2020. But his overriding emotion after the race was disappointment for his driver.
James Gilbert | Getty Images
“Even though I wasn’t around for the previous four attempts, I was around for this one, and I know the effort that he put into this one,” Gayle said. “I know how much time we spent in sim. I know the time he was looking at stuff, preparing for that qualifying lap weeks ahead. I know that.
“And that’s what I hate, is I hate that it came down to some chaotic late-race restart where we were the dominant car and didn’t get the win.”
The pivotal decision came under that final caution in overtime, taking four tires while others either stayed out or took two. Gayle stands by his call despite the end result.
“For a second, I could think, ‘Oh, well, if I took two tires…’ – I don’t know if that would have worked,” Gayle said. “The 5 (Larson) … this was their only shot, and it really was going to dictate on just how many other cars stayed and who fit between you. I think four tires was the right call. We just didn’t get clear on the bottom – and I thought for a split second we were. And the 5 got the outside run, and then it was just boxed in with chaos a little bit.”
While Larson went on to win the championship, Hamlin was joined in the media center by both Byron and Chase Briscoe, the other Championship 4 contenders who weren’t fortunate enough to bring home the title.
Hamlin was first to the desk, but Byron was next, immediately placing his hand upon Hamlin’s shoulder and apologizing: “Sorry, man.”
Despite his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Larson becoming a two-time Cup champion in light of Byron’s misfortune, Byron couldn’t help but feel bad for Hamlin.
“It just doesn’t seem right, you know?” Byron said. “He had beat us, right? We’re running second, and four laps to go, you go into the wall and cause a caution. It sucks, right? I don’t want to be that guy, even if I’m in the Championship 4. That doesn’t really matter. I just don’t want to change the outcome, so it sucks.”
Even Larson, in his moment of glory, couldn’t help but think of the empathy he has for Hamlin, who has long been a friend of Larson’s.
“It’s great to celebrate and all that, but it does feel a little awkward because he has put so much time and energy and has been so close to winning so many championships, and this is as close as he’s ever been,” Larson said. “And sure, he’s a competitor, but he is a friend, you know? I was gonna be happy for him to win. That’s kind of what I was thinking about. Like, man, I can’t wait to go tell him good job. And then the caution came out and the script flipped right there.
“I haven’t seen him. I haven’t seen an interview. I haven’t seen the moments that I’m sure he had with his family and shared with his daughters. But I mean, sure, I’m happy, but there’s definitely a piece of me that is sad for him as well.”
Hamlin signed a two-year contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing in July that keeps him in the No. 11 car through the 2027 season. At age 44, he has said that this will be his final driving contract.
Whether or not he gets another chance to contend for a championship in that time, Gayle believes the way Hamlin conducted himself and performed Sunday is worthy of the title.
“He prepared like a champion,” Gayle said. “He’s not going to walk away here with a trophy, but he prepared like one. He did everything he could do all weekend, the three weeks leading up – really all year. Even though he doesn’t have the trophy, I feel like he’s a champion.”
AVONDALE, Ariz. — When William Byron hit the Turn 3 wall with bone-jarring impact at Lap 310 of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship, the gut punch it delivered to Denny Hamlin was exponentially more painful.
The resulting caution and strategic call by crew chief Cliff Daniels allowed Kyle Larson to snatch the Cup Series championship from Hamlin without leading a lap at Phoenix Raceway.
Larson finished third behind race winner Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski to claim his second title in NASCAR’s top division and the 15th for team owner Rick Hendrick as the highest finisher among the Championship 4 drivers — Hamlin, Byron and Chase Briscoe.
It was the 15th Cup championship for team owner Rick Hendrick, and it came with a major plot twist in the final stage.
With the scheduled 312 laps winding down, Hamlin led Byron by nearly three seconds and appeared headed for the first Cup title in his 20 full-time seasons behind the wheel of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
In dominating fashion, Hamlin led seven times for 208 laps. Though he battled a balky clutch and rallied from a flat left-rear tire after winning the second stage, he failed to win the championship for the fifth time under the elimination playoff format.
Instead, it was Larson who went to Victory Lane to receive the Bill France Cup, almost in disbelief.
“Honestly, I can’t believe it,” Larson said. “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.”
After Byron’s wreck, which sent the race to overtime, Daniels opted for two right-side tires for the second straight pit stop. Hamlin pitted from the lead and took fresh Goodyear rubber on all four corners.
But with Keselowski, Ryan Preece and Alex Bowman staying out on older tires, and Blaney, Larson, Joey Logano, Josh Berry, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott taking right sides only, Hamlin lined up 10th for the overtime restart — five spots behind Larson — and chose the bottom row for the final run.
From the outside lane, Larson charged through the first two corners and maintained a gap between his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and Hamlin’s Camry. On the final lap, Hamlin lost momentum on the bottom in Turns 1 and 2 and couldn’t recover.
He finished sixth, with Blaney beating Keselowski by 0.097 seconds for the race win.
Larson got the confidence he needed on the first two-tire call under caution on Lap 281. He restarted second beside Briscoe and was able to maintain fifth place before Byron hit the wall.
“We had the right-front go down (earlier), lost a lap,” Larson said. “Got saved by the caution. Did the wave-around. Was really bad that run. We took two tires. I was like, “oh, God, here we go. We’re going to go to the back now.’
“It had a lot more grip than I anticipated. We got lucky with the final caution. I was really hoping we were going to take two again. I felt like I learned a lot on that restart, bombing (Turns) 1 and 2 really hard. Thought I could do the same thing if we got another one.
“Just unbelievable. What a year by this Hendrick Motorsports (team). Cliff Daniels, everybody, his leadership, his complete 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, just unbelievable. I cannot believe it. This is insane!”
Doubtless, Hamlin would agree. He and his team brought the fastest car to Phoenix and executed a near-flawless race. The clutch issue and flat left-rear tire were challenges the No. 11 team overcame without panicking.
“Did the best I could,” Hamlin said. “Everything I really prepared for happened today. I felt like we responded. Even losing track position at one point, just battling back. Did really well on restarts. Hadn’t been good on restarts for the bulk of the year.
“Yeah, the team brought a great championship car. I felt like I drove it just right up until two laps to go. Yeah, this is the part that stinks …
“Golly, in this moment, I never want to race a car ever again,” Hamlin said with a wry smile. “I mean, my fun meter is pegged.”
Blaney’s win was almost an afterthought, but it also was tantalizingly close to a second championship for the driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford. Blaney finished second to Byron in a must-win situation last Sunday at Martinsville Speedway — one spot away from qualifying for the Championship 4.
“It’s just cool to end it on a good note,” Blaney said. “It’s just cool, and obviously, we had a fast car all day. Those other guys (Hamlin and Byron) were just kind of faster getting going, and I could never retain the lead.
“Those guys were just really good, and it took my car a while to come in, but it was a really good call for two (tires) there and keeping track position. I got a decent restart, and I was able to kind of roll the bottom in (Turns) 3 and 4 and eke the 6 (Keselowski) out at the line.”
Byron, who finished 33rd after leading 52 laps and winning the first stage, expressed sympathy for Hamlin, even though the Lap 310 accident gave his teammate the chance to win the title.
“I’m just super bummed that it was a caution, obviously,” Byron said. “I hate that. Hate it for Denny. I hate it for the 11 team.
“I’m happy for Kyle, for Mr. Hendrick, they deserve it. Yeah, it stinks, right? I don’t know, three laps to go, I’m thinking, ‘let me get to the end.’
“I felt something funny off of (Turn) 2, thought it might be a flat. I thought at the time, if it’s left rear, you can kind of get back. It just went straight into (Turn) 3. Laid down on the right rear, went straight (into the wall). I hate that.”
Briscoe rallied from flat tires twice on Sunday, restarted 15th in overtime and finished 18th.
In a race that featured nine cautions for 65 laps, Logano finished fourth, followed by Busch and Hamlin. Berry, Michael McDowell, Preece and Elliott completed the top 10.
Blaney led 20 laps in securing his fourth win of the season and the 17th of his career. The win was his first at Phoenix after three straight runner-up finishes in the championship race. In 2023, however, second place was good enough to earn Blaney his only series title to date.
The Cup Series now heads into off-season mode before returning Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, for the Cook Out Clash exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium. The 68th running of the Daytona 500 follows on Feb. 15 to officially open the season.
Note: Inspection was completed in the Cup Series garage with no issues, confirming Blaney as the race winner and Larson as the champion. No cars will return to the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina for further evaluation.
AVONDALE, Ariz. – Rick Hendrick made two admissions after Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series championship race. Both were telling.
The first was about the difficulty of keeping up with the breakneck pace of a frantic ending to the season finale at Phoenix Raceway, where title contenders rose and fell like fishing bobbers. The second admission was about how bleak things looked, even after Kyle Larson replaced William Byron as Hendrick Motorsports’ strongest championship threat to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin in overtime.
“I almost jumped off the box,” Hendrick said. “I mean, I was ready to call Joe and say congratulations to Denny. All of a sudden, here we are, we’re going to win this thing.”
That call of congratulations ended up being unnecessary. Larson summoned just enough from his battle-tested No. 5 Chevrolet in a two-lap dash to the end, denying Byron and Joe Gibbs Racing contenders Hamlin and Chase Briscoe in a winner-take-all final.
“Never did I feel like I had it,” Larson said, sharing some of the same uncertainty as his team owner held.
The triumph that sealed Larson’s second Cup Series championship was a microcosm of the No. 5 team’s tribulation-filled season, one marked by loss, by change and by resilience. Each time, the group coalesced and forged ahead.
Sunday, the No. 5 team found that same style of perseverance, flipping the script on a pair of powerful performances by Hamlin and Byron, who combined to lead 260 of the 319 laps. All the while, Larson remained within striking distance, running among the top five through the first two stages.
In that second intermission, though, came the first setback. The No. 5 pit crew executed a four-tire stop, but the wheel fastener came free while tire-changer Jafar Hall tended to the left-front corner of the car. The miscue dropped Larson from fourth to 18th in the running order, forcing the team to regroup.
“It was ugly,” Hall told NASCAR.com. “I mean, after I lost the lug, the next thing I’m thinking is go to my belt fast to grab my spare, so that’s what I did. It didn’t turn out the way that I would like it, but we did the best that we could with it.”
The team had more extensive crisis management to make just 20 laps after the final stage went green. Larson had made up 10 of the spots that he’d lost when a flat right-front tire slowed the No. 5 Chevrolet in a cloud of smoke. As he had done at multiple points this season, crew chief Cliff Daniels calmly, coolly guided the team through the mishap, reassuring his crew that they weren’t out of it. The team waved around to return to the lead lap, but Larson restarted 29th with just 86 laps left in regulation.
“After we had the flat tire, there wasn’t a lot of good things coming our way at the time,” Daniels said, acknowledging what had been “a pretty ugly day” for the team overall. “We knew we would have more shots for pit stops and for restarts and maybe mix it up a bit. The way that the team stuck together and continued to believe in each other, Kyle continued to believe that if we just had a shot, we could close it out. That was what was put on display today.”
The hot conditions and the dramatic tire wear that came with it put all of Daniels’ leadership and strategy savvy to the test. A pair of two-tire calls in the late going were enough to give Larson the track position he needed, and only Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota was within reach of the No. 5 at the end, restarting five spots back in overtime. The 33-year-old hotshoe did the rest, securing his second Cup Series title in a five-year span.
“Yeah, it’s insane,” Larson said with a smile in the media center post-race. “I don’t know. I mean, did anybody in here think that we had a shot? Like, I definitely — like Cliff was saying, we weren’t dead, but we were pretty close.”
The No. 5 team bore personal scars and the effects of significant changes throughout this championship season. The organization shifted up its pit crew in April, bringing in the No. 7 Spire Motorsports team’s over-the-wall bunch before the series’ first trip to Darlington. Just days later, the No. 5 team lost longtime public-relations manager Jon Edwards, a Hendrick Motorsports employee for nearly 30 years and a fixture in the Cup Series garage.
The loss didn’t end there, but the group pressed on through the 40-week season. There was symmetry with that journey, and on Sunday, it resonated with Daniels.
“A lot of our team guys have just been through a lot this year,” Daniels said. “We’ve had things going on away from the race track where we’ve had to overcome obstacles, sometimes even tragedy, and work through a lot of things together, which to me there’s just a lot of beauty in that, of a team banding together the way that we have this season. That was really showcased today.”
No. 5 jackman Eric Ludwig said he knew the feeling, especially after the team left the gates Sunday with a fast start, then “it was just, it can’t go right.” The season had that same sentiment, with much more magnitude on a personal level.
“This year has been a complete roller coaster,” Ludwig told NASCAR.com. “We’ve been all over the place, coming from the 7 as backups to filling in, to being on the car. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season as a group. Myself, my carrier, we both lost our moms this year. We lost Jon Edwards this year. So it’s been an emotional roller-coaster, to say the least, and I’m just glad that the man upstairs allowed us to perform our duties the way we’re supposed to today and just put us in the place to be able to do what we can to make it to this point.”
After going through all the hardship and adversity – both Sunday and all season – the No. 5 crew allowed some moments of levity to come through. The over-the-wall group sat on the edge of the championship stage during the post-race ceremonies, posing for pictures and swapping out hats before bottles of champagne were handed out.
That’s when Annie, the Hendrick family’s 11-month-old goldendoodle, wedged herself between Hall and Ludwig to get in the frame. Ludwig swings a heavy metal jack from one side of the car to the other on race days. After a hard-fought championship, he instead handled dog-sitting duties with some well-received head scratches for the miniature pup.
“I love dogs,” Ludwig said with a laugh. “I mean, she wanted to be a part of it, so Annie got somethin’ somethin’.”
There wasn’t much else the No. 5 team couldn’t handle, especially Larson, who gathered up his second championship in a far different manner than his first in 2021. That year, Larson won 10 times and led twice as many laps as in this year’s three-win campaign. That method and the mix of unlikelihood didn’t make the accomplishment any less sweet.
“It’s still so fresh that it’s honestly hard to believe that I’m sitting right here talking to you guys after what we went through tonight,” Larson said. “I think that’s probably what’s going to probably be the thing that I look back on, is just how unbelievable today was, the last 40 minutes of the race for us. Just incredible.”
Kyle Larson bounced back from a right-front tire failure on Lap 215 in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship to earn his second title Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.
“I’m just speechless. I can’t believe it. We had an average car at best,” Larson told NBC after the race. “What a year by Hendrick Motorsports. Cliff Daniels, everybody, his leadership, his complete 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, just unbelievable. I cannot believe it. This is insane.”
Finishing Stage 2 in fourth, Larson had a lengthy stop on pit road and fell to 17th on the ensuing restart. The Hendrick Motorsports driver had worked back inside the top 10 before his tire went down, slowing in Turn 4 and gathering his Chevrolet up without major damage. He came back to pit road for service and fell a lap down before a caution for Carson Hocevar.
Chase Briscoe first had a tire go down in Stage 2, but had fought back to third before a second tire issue moments after Larson. Both drivers stayed on the lead lap with the timely caution. Larson took the wave around before the Lap 226 restart.
“We had the right front go down, lost a lap,” Larson said. “Got saved by the caution. Did the wave-around. Was really bad that run. We took two tires. I was like, Oh, God, here we go. We’re going to go to the back now.”
Using additional cautions to his advantage, Larson returned to the mix later in the final stage, and after a caution to fellow Championship 4 driver, the No. 5 driver capitalized. Taking two tires in his final pit stop, Larson jumped to fifth for NASCAR Overtime, while Denny Hamlin, the most dominant driver of the afternoon, took four and restarted 11th.
That six-position difference was enough of a gap for Larson to hold off the Joe Gibbs Racing phenom and earn his second career title, finishing third in the race.
“It had a lot more grip than I anticipated,” Larson said, recalling the final moments of the race. “We got lucky with the final caution. I was really hoping we were going to take two again. I felt like I learned a lot on that restart, bombing one and two really hard. Thought I could do the same thing if we got another one. Just unbelievable.”
Larson entered Sunday’s title-deciding race with three victories on the 2025 campaign, but has been winless since Kansas Speedway in May. He clinched the lone Championship 4 spot on points, recording a pair of top fives in the Round of 8.
Chase Briscoe suffered multiple tire issues in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway. He first ran into trouble when he experienced a right-rear tire going down during Stage 2, creating early hurdles for the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team in its 2025 title quest.
Briscoe ultimately finished 18th, third-best of the Championship 4 contenders.
“We never gave up. That’s been the story of my whole career, never giving up,” Briscoe told NBC. “You never know what can change at any point. Felt like we were good enough. We came from the front to the back two or three different times. Had a really good Bass Pro Shops Tracker Toyota. Wish we could have been on an even playing field at some point.
“Obviously thankful for the opportunity. So excited to be at Joe Gibbs Racing, be able to compete for wins and compete for championships. Hate that one of us didn’t get it. I thought we were both certainly capable. This wasn’t our day.”
On Lap 106, a caution was thrown for Shane van Gisbergen of Trackhouse Racing, who also suffered a tire failure. It was fortuitous timing for the championship-seeking 30-year-old from Mitchell, Indiana, who incurred his own tire issue simultaneously but was able to slow down entering Turn 1 and gather up his Toyota without suffering major damage. However, the No. 19 Toyota was forced to return to pit road for a second stop after reporting a vibration issue, relegating Briscoe to outside the top 25.
Briscoe started Sunday’s race from 12th position, working his way up to fifth before the tire issue. He suffered a flat left-rear tire during Friday’s 50-minute practice session, limiting him to just 24 laps of track time.
During the final stage, Briscoe was up to second and running down William Byron for the lead. Fellow Championship 4 competitor Kyle Larson suffered a flat tire, and a lap later, the No. 19 Toyota had another tire go down. Briscoe made it to pit road without further incident.
Briscoe was still scored on the lead lap after the incident. He climbed back inside the top five with under 30 laps to go, but on older tires, faded late. Byron crashed from second with under five laps to go, shaping up a wild NASCAR Overtime in which Larson prevailed for his second title.
It’s a bitter ending for Briscoe right now, but he expects more Championship 4 berths in the future.
“Certainly we think we can get back here. James (Small, crew chief) and I were talking; we don’t even feel like we’re at our full potential yet,” Briscoe said. “I definitely feel confident we can get back.
“This year to prove to myself and certainly a lot of other people, too, that I feel like I belong here, right? So yeah, looking forward to obviously building on that. Really this year I felt like we gave the field half a season head start because we were learning so much throughout the process. We’ll start on an even playing field next year, see if we can be better.”
No. 19 crew chief James Small said on the team radio and post-race that he’d chalked the tire issues up to debris and not overly aggressive strategy with air pressures. After the final pit cycle, Briscoe lined up 15th for the overtime restart and never made up the lost ground.
“I think we had a good shot there,” said crew chief James Small. “Yeah, should have made a different call at the end and known better. (Expletive) happens, I guess.”
The call he says he should have made? “(Expletive) take right-side tires, like we should have done,” Small said, “but he thought he could make it work on four, which was never going to happen. Anyway, I’ve learned my lesson. So, all good.”
The NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series culminate the playoff action this weekend in Arizona, each crowning a champion in the desert at Phoenix Raceway. Bookmark this page and come back often for your race-week essentials — from links to qualifying order, average practice speeds, results and more.
Race day: Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. The categories listed below will be filled out with links as the information becomes available.
Tires: Twelve sets for the weekend (seven new race sets, one set transferred from qualifying, four for practice). Teams will also be allotted four wet-weather sets, if necessary.
Race day: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW. The categories listed below will be filled out with links as the information becomes available.
Tires: Six sets for the weekend (four new race sets, one set transferred from qualifying, one for practice). Teams will also be allotted three wet-weather sets, if necessary.
Race day: Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1. The categories listed below will be filled out with links as the information becomes available.
Tires: Six sets for the weekend (four new race sets, one set transferred from qualifying, one for practice). Teams will also be allotted three wet-weather sets, if necessary.
