The NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race was slipping away from Kyle Larson. For Denny Hamlin, it felt firmly within reach.

That balance shifted violently on Lap 310, when William Byron slammed into the Turn 3 wall with a devastating impact that instantly rewrote the championship script. The caution that followed opened the door for a bold strategy call from Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Cliff Daniels, allowing Larson to capture the Cup Series championship without ever leading a lap at Phoenix Raceway.

Larson finished third behind race winner Ryan Blaney and runner-up Brad Keselowski, but it was enough. As the highest-finishing driver among the Championship 4, Larson secured his second Cup Series title and delivered the 15th championship for team owner Rick Hendrick.

It was a stunning twist in a race that had largely belonged to Hamlin.

With the scheduled distance nearing its end, Hamlin had built a comfortable advantage, holding a nearly three-second lead over Byron and appearing poised to finally earn his first Cup championship in his 20th full-time season. The No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota had been the class of the field, leading seven times for 207 laps despite overcoming a clutch issue and a flat left-rear tire earlier in the race.

Then everything changed.

Byron’s crash sent the race into overtime, forcing teams into a final strategic decision. Daniels once again opted for two right-side tires on Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet, while Hamlin came to pit road from the lead and took four fresh tires.

The split strategies shuffled the field dramatically. With several drivers staying out and others opting for partial tire changes, Hamlin lined up 10th for the restart, five positions behind Larson, and chose the inside lane for the final dash.

Larson wasted no time making the move count. From the outside, he attacked Turns 1 and 2 aggressively, creating just enough separation to neutralize Hamlin’s charge. On the final lap, Hamlin struggled to maintain momentum on the bottom and was unable to mount a last challenge.

Hamlin crossed the line sixth as Blaney edged Keselowski by 0.097 seconds for the race win.

Larson, meanwhile, was left almost stunned by the outcome.

“I honestly can’t believe it,” Larson said. “We didn’t lead a lap today and somehow won the championship. We had an average car at best. I’m just speechless.”

The confidence behind the winning call had been built earlier. After suffering a right-front tire failure and going a lap down, Larson caught a timely caution and used a wave-around to stay in contention. A two-tire call on Lap 281 surprised him with how much grip it provided, setting the stage for the final restart.

“I learned a lot bombing Turns 1 and 2 on that restart,” Larson said. “When we got that last caution, I was really hoping we’d take two again. Cliff Daniels and this whole team never stopped believing.”

For Hamlin, the loss was another painful chapter in a championship pursuit that continues to fall just short under the current playoff format.

“Did the best I could,” Hamlin said. “We brought a great championship car and responded to everything that happened today. I felt like I drove it just right until two laps to go. That’s the part that stinks.”

He added with a wry smile, “In this moment, I never want to race a car again. My fun meter is pegged.”

Blaney’s victory nearly faded into the background amid the championship drama, but it marked an important milestone for the Team Penske driver. After narrowly missing the Championship 4 at Martinsville a week earlier, Blaney capped the season with his first Phoenix win, the fourth of his year and the 17th of his career.

“It’s cool to end the season on a good note,” Blaney said. “We had speed all day, and the two-tire call was the right move. I was able to roll the bottom and get the 6 at the line.”

Byron, who finished 33rd after leading 52 laps and winning Stage 1, expressed sympathy for Hamlin despite the crash that opened the door for Larson.

“I hate that it ended with a caution,” Byron said. “I hate it for Denny and the 11 team. I felt something go wrong off Turn 2 and it just went straight into the wall. That one hurts.”

Chase Briscoe battled back from multiple flat tires but finished 18th after restarting deep in the field during overtime.

The race featured nine cautions for 65 laps. Joey Logano finished fourth, followed by Kyle Busch and Hamlin. Josh Berry, Michael McDowell, Ryan Preece, Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell rounded out the top 10.

For Larson and Hendrick Motorsports, it was a championship born from resilience, calculated risk, and perfect timing. For Hamlin, it was another reminder of how unforgiving the final race can be — and how quickly a title can disappear.