The NASCAR Cup Series wrapped up at Phoenix Raceway, where Kyle Larson clinched his second title by defeating Denny Hamlin, who led all season with the most wins and also led the most laps in the finale. “The way our format is, you know, it comes down to one race, four drivers, but you just have to beat the other three,” Larson reflected recently, capturing the immense over-importance of merely one race to decide the championship. Bear in mind that these words echo a growing frustration in the garage.

Denny Hamlin’s heartbreak and Connor Zilisch’s near-miss in the final highlighted how all-season dominance has zero value in the most important race. And with NASCAR looking to tweak its championship format in 2026, drivers like Larson’s take on the current structure hold weight.

Kyle

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