Kyle Larson wins second NASCAR championship, denying Denny Hamlin
Kyle Larson has denied Denny Hamlin his first career championship at Phoenix Raceway. A late caution sent the title-deciding finale into overtime. Hamlin was three laps from shedding the label as the greatest NASCAR driver to never win a championship when William Byron got a flat tire and hit the wall. Hamlin led the field down pit road and got four new tires on his Toyota. Larson only took two tires in his Chevrolet. It meant Larson was fifth for the two-lap sprint to the finish, with Hamlin back in 10th. Ryan Blaney, who was eliminated from title contention last week, won the race.