Sports · Motorsport · 42 mins ago
Kyle Larson wins at Talladega and extends Chase lead to 73 points
Kyle Larson won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama after a dramatic last-lap comeback.
He fell back from the lead, then climbed from 11th to first in the final two corners, beating teammate William Byron by a few feet.
The win was Larson’s first at Talladega and his third victory in the past seven races.
Larson now leads Denny Hamlin by 73 points in the Chase standings, with two races remaining.
Hamlin finished eighth and said he was unsure whether he could make up the gap.
The result puts Larson close to a third championship, though a title is not yet secured.
A win at Martinsville Speedway on Nov.
1 could clinch it for him.
The series heads to Martinsville for its next race, the penultimate event of the season.
Kyle Larson won the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, moving 73 points ahead of Denny Hamlin in the NASCAR Cup Series Chase standings.
Larson rallied from 11th to first in the final two corners after falling back on the last lap.
Hamlin finished eighth, while Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron was second and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was third.
The result leaves two races remaining and puts Larson in position to clinch his third championship with a win at Martinsville on Nov. 1.
Post-race inspection found no issues with Larson’s car, confirming him as the winner.
- Who
- Kyle Larson won; Denny Hamlin finished eighth and is his closest challenger in the standings.
- What
- Larson won the YellaWood 500 and extended his Chase points lead to 73.
- When
- Oct. 25, 2026.
- Where
- Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama.
- Why
- Larson won after a late-race charge; the sources do not state a single reason for the result.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hamlin’s car was damaged in a multi-car wreck.
Larson fell back before charging from 11th to first in the last two corners.
Larson won the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Inspection found no issues with Larson’s car and confirmed him as the winner.
The Cup Series heads to Martinsville Speedway for the penultimate race of the season.
- Winner
- Kyle Larson
- Race
- 2026 YellaWood 500
- Track
- Talladega Superspeedway, Alabama
- Points lead
- Larson leads Hamlin by 73 points
- Remaining races
- Two
- Next race
- Martinsville Speedway, Nov. 1
16 sources
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. explains why he lost Talladega Cup race
Kyle Larson extends Chase points lead with 1st NASCAR win at Talladega
Stenhouse laments race-losing move at Talladega
Larson leaves Chase challengers, including Hamlin, in stunned silence after ‘Dega
2026 NASCAR Cup Series Talladega Post-Race Inspection
What people are saying
I screwed up
An unbelievable way to get my first speedway win. It all just worked out.
Maybe. Maybe not.
It’s a sports car not meant to be running 200mph.