NASCAR Cup Series Championship

Kyle Larson captured his second NASCAR Cup Series championship in one of the most dramatic finishes in the sport's history, overcoming two flat tires and a 29th-place restart with 86 laps remaining to finish third at Phoenix Raceway -- the highest among the Championship 4 drivers. Ryan Blaney won the race itself, crossing the line ahead of Brad Keselowski, but the championship belonged to Larson after crew chief Cliff Daniels made two brilliant strategic calls that reversed the entire trajectory of the title fight.

Denny Hamlin appeared to have the championship locked up, leading a commanding 208 of 319 laps and controlling the race from the front. But with two laps remaining in regulation, William Byron's No. 24 Chevrolet slammed the Turn 3 wall with a flat tire, bringing out the caution that sent the race to overtime. Daniels called for just two right-side tires on Larson's No. 5 Chevrolet -- the second consecutive two-tire call of the late going -- vaulting Larson to fifth for the overtime restart. Hamlin, who had pitted from the lead and taken four fresh tires, lined up 10th, five spots behind his championship rival.

Larson held third through the overtime laps while Hamlin could only recover to sixth, and the championship swung on that single pit-strategy decision. Hamlin's 208 laps led and dominant speed were rendered moot by a caution he did not cause and a strategy gamble he could not overcome. Chase Briscoe's title hopes were undone by multiple flat tires throughout the race, finishing 18th, while Byron ended up 33rd after his wall contact. Larson became the 15th champion for team owner Rick Hendrick and joined an elite club of multi-time Cup Series champions.