AVONDALE, Ariz. — Kyle Larson had barely earned the title of a two-time Cup champion and Jeff Gordon couldn’t help himself.
“We knew today was going to be a big challenge, but we were already getting excited about Homestead next year,” Gordon said.
The four-time Cup champion who is now the executive vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports knows just how good Larson is at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the site of the 2026 season finale.
While the playoff format is not set for 2026, knowing that will likely be the place where the champion is determined gives Gordon and the rest of Hendrick Motorsports a good feeling that more titles could be on the horizon.
Not that a Hendrick championship should be a surprise.
Kyle Larson celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix.
Larson’s title Sunday at Phoenix Raceway marked Hendrick’s 15th championship in the last 30 years, starting with Gordon’s in 1995.
“Kyle will win a lot of championships,” team owner Rick Hendrick said.
The 33-year-old Larson won his first title in 2021, his first season at Hendrick Motorsports, after entering full-time Cup racing with Chip Ganassi in 2014. Larson won 10 races that year and won the Phoenix finale to capture the title.
His 2025 season was far from as dominant. He won three races all by early May, finishing the season with a 24-race winless streak but also a title. He recorded 15 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes.
Larson thinks he might have better chances to win more titles with Homestead in the championship mix. The potential change to a three-race or more final round, rather than a one-race championship, could also fit into his wheelhouse.
“I think it would be a little bit more in my favor,” Larson said. “I think it would be a little bit more in everybody’s favor, honestly.
“I think we all would take multiple races rather than just one because a lot can happen in just one, obviously. We’ll see. I’m just soaking this in right now. Still trying to figure out how it all happened.”
Kyle Larson and crew after the driver won his second Cup title of his career.
Trying to figure out how Larson won the title Sunday at Phoenix will take a while. Larson didn’t lead a lap. He was probably third or fourth among the four championship finalists when it came to speed.
But a two-tire stop late when leader Denny Hamlin took four and got mired behind several other cars put Larson in position to win the title, as Chase Briscoe and William Byron were too far back after having tire issues.
All Larson needed to do was hold off runs from those with four fresh tires, and he would win the title.
“[He has] expertise in all types of racing, whether or not it is dash automobile racing, making aggressive strikes that work,” Gordon mentioned.
Gordon mentioned he noticed Larson’s confidence waver this yr after a tough Could the place he crashed at each the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 when making an attempt to run each races on the identical day.
“It is the primary time I noticed his confidence get introduced down a notch,” Gordon mentioned. “I feel it was a humbling expertise. By all that, I by no means noticed him cease being his aggressive model.
“To me, when Kyle Larson has a shot at a checkered flag or a championship, he’ll give 110 %. that he would possibly scuff the wall or who is aware of what would possibly come from it. However he is come via the opposite finish of it in a great place in his expertise, victories or success doing it, that he brings that each time.”
Larson introduced it sufficient to win the title, albeit in a race the place he took benefit of the chance handed to him.
Kyle Larson takes it in after profitable the championship in Phoenix.
“The primary championship, we dominated the season, led tons of laps, all the issues {that a} champion ought to do. All the things form of got here simple again then,” Larson mentioned. “The championship race did not, however the season was.
“[This] season has been a problem. Hopefully, I’m lucky sufficient to win different championships alongside the best way. I feel every would imply one thing completely different.”
One factor Larson appears ahead to probably the most is receiving the champion’s diary, a ebook began by Jimmie Johnson the place drivers write notes to the following champion.
“In all probability probably the most particular factor about being a champion is getting that ebook,” Larson mentioned. “I am grateful to get my fingers on it once more, get to see what was written within the few years since I’ve received.”
Larson definitely isn’t accomplished writing his historical past within the sport.
“I do not suppose any of us foresaw us getting a second championship within the style that we did,” Larson mentioned. “That most likely makes it appear even completely different. Nonetheless, we’re on the record two instances. That is one thing to be happy with.
“So far as for legacy, I actually do not put an entire lot of thought into that but. Like I’ve talked about many instances earlier than, I feel it is actually laborious to consider that kind of factor proper now as you are still competing and plan to compete for fairly some time.”
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years protecting motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Comply with him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
