AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kyle Larson denied Denny Hamlin his first career championship when a late caution at Phoenix Raceway sent the title-deciding finale into overtime.
Hamlin was just three laps away from shedding the label as the greatest NASCAR driver to never win a championship when fellow title contender William Byron got a flat tire and hit the wall, bringing out the caution.
Hamlin led the field down pit road and took four new tires on his Toyota, while Larson opted for only two tires on his Chevrolet. This strategy put Larson in fifth place for the two-lap sprint to the finish, with Hamlin falling back to 10th.
With so little time left to chase down Larson, Hamlin came up short, finishing sixth as Larson secured third place.
Ryan Blaney, who was eliminated from title contention last week, won the race.
This marks the second championship for Larson, who won his first title in 2021 after joining Hendrick Motorsports.
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