{"id":62447,"date":"2026-11-08T18:55:37","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T00:55:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=62447"},"modified":"2026-11-09T09:38:15","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T15:38:15","slug":"a-talent-for-the-ages-kyle-larson-adds-a-third-cup-crown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2026\/11\/08\/a-talent-for-the-ages-kyle-larson-adds-a-third-cup-crown\/","title":{"rendered":"A talent for the ages: Kyle Larson adds a third Cup crown"},"content":{"rendered":"
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HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 08: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship after the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 08, 2026 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Holly Cain <\/b>| <\/b>NASCAR Wire Service<\/b><\/p>\n

HOMESTEAD, Fla. \u2013 It\u2019s exactly the kind of laidback style that seems so contrary for a superstar athlete who makes his living driving a stock car 200 mph wheel-to-wheel, door-to-door.<\/p>\n

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HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 08: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, crosses the finish line to win the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship after the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 08, 2026 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Kyle Larson was told on the radio by his Hendrick Motorsports team that he had officially clinched the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship early in Sunday\u2019s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the 34-year-old Californian calmly responded, \u201cOkay, that\u2019s cool. Good job guys.”<\/p>\n

\u201cCool,\u201d and also history-making. Larson becomes only the 11th driver in all NASCAR history to win at least three titles \u2013 matching his work in 2021 and 2025. And he is the first since NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson (2006-10) to claim back-to-back championships in the premier level of stock car racing.<\/p>\n

So, after a fittingly championship-caliber burnout following a title-winning 12th-place finish \u2013 Larson left no doubt as to the joy and satisfaction the South Florida night meant. His whole extended family – wife Kaitlyn, son Owen, 11, daughter Audrey, 8, and youngest, son Cooper, 3, his in-laws, sister and his mom and dad – who have so faithfully documented, supported and celebrated this once-a-generation success story – joined him on the track for the hard-earned, well-earned celebration.<\/p>\n

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HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 08: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates with his son, Cooper Larson, and daughter, Audrey Larson after wining the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship after the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 08, 2026 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The kiddos stood on the roof of his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet \u2013 Owen waving the flag, Audrey ringing a winner\u2019s bell and Cooper jumping up and down, playing in all the confetti. It was one happy night for the Larson family.<\/p>\n

The biggest challenge that Larson seemed to face on the night was hoisting the heavy, three-feet tall silver Bill France Cup championship trophy, but Larson smiled and lifted it above his head. Success. It\u2019s something he knows about.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been in the gym so I could make sure I could lift it this year,” Larson said grinning.<\/p>\n

Despite his famously easygoing nature, Larson knows how to mash the gas, out-maneuver and out-smart his competition in nearly anything with a motor and wheels. He is one of the most decorated race car drivers of his generation blessed with the kind of massive natural talent that has positioned him as a standard-bearer in his sport.<\/p>\n

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HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 08: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates with family and crew in victory lane after winning the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship after the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 08, 2026 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He’s won in or been competitive in such a wide variety of racing cars \u2013 with a 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona sports car win, multiple titles driving a sprint car in the Knoxville Nationals and a midget in the Chili Bowl. He competed in the Indianapolis 500 twice and was crowned Rookie of the Race there in 2024. <\/p>\n

And Larson answered his 2025 Cup Series title in a convincing, workmanlike way that could serve as a lesson in perseverance and belief in yourself. He snapped a nagging 51-race winless streak by claiming three victories in this season\u2019s 10 Chase races \u2013 having gone into the title run, ranked seventh among the 16 drivers that settled the trophy.<\/p>\n

One of his chief rivals on-track, veteran Denny Hamlin, offered Larson a huge compliment declaring after the race that Larson is \u201cthis generation\u2019s Jimmie Johnson\u201d \u2013 a nod to the former Hendrick Motorsports driver and record-tying seven-time champion.<\/p>\n

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HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 08: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 08, 2026 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Team Penske\u2019s Ryan Blaney, the 2023 series champ who won Sunday\u2019s Homestead race, was equally as effusive about Larson\u2019s talent.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s really good at finding the edge and he used to step over it a lot in his early days,” Blaney said. \u201cHe\u2019d always be at the edge and sometimes take himself out of contention. But as he\u2019s gotten older and more experienced and things like that, he\u2019s really refined that skill. He\u2019s still on the edge but doesn\u2019t go over it a lot and,” he added with a smile, \u201cthat\u2019s really dangerous for the rest of us.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, he\u2019s incredibly talented, his natural God-given talent is off the charts,” Blaney continued. \u201cHe is very deserving, I think, to win his third championship. That group makes it hard on everyone in the garage, for sure. They are a very good team and everyone has their work cut out for them to try and contending with that group and specifically that pairing of Kyle and Cliff.”<\/p>\n

Hendrick Motorsports\u2019 executive \u2013 a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champ and also a NASCAR Hall of Famer \u2013 Jeff Gordon went so far as to compare Larson with some of the most epic and versatile racers of all-time \u2013 legends such as A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to pick the most impressive thing that he does because he gets in an IndyCar and goes fast and in a sprint car he\u2019ll fly overnight and go win Knoxville and come back and win the Brickyard, that\u2019s rare air, just so few guys that are capable of that,” Gordon said.<\/p>\n

NASCAR Hall of Famer, team owner Rick Hendrick agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think when you look at how versatile he is, and he\u2019s fast and wins in anything he gets in,” Hendrick said. \u201cYou can\u2019t run against A.J. and Mario in the same time so hard to determine that but in my eyes, a guy that can get in anything and win, show up with no practice in a sprint car or even when he went to Indy, I think he has to be looked at as one of the all-time greats.”<\/p>\n

A couple hours after Sunday night\u2019s checkered flag, Larson \u2013 and his family \u2013 was still smiling. Fans waited long after the victory burnouts cheering him on through media interviews, the traditional \u201chat dances\u201d in Victory Lane, congratulatory hugs and high-fives and photos upon photos.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a year,” a grinning Larson said, in marvelous understatement.<\/p>\n

And indeed, it has been.<\/p>\n

Interview: NCS Champion Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) <\/h3>\n