Kyle Larson delivered one of the most remarkable finishes of his NASCAR Cup Series career on Sunday, winning the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway after falling outside the top 10 on the final lap. The Hendrick Motorsports driver started 10th and led 23 laps before securing his third victory of the 2026 season.
Larson appeared positioned for the victory when he took the white flag, but contact and shifting drafting lanes sent him backward coming off Turn 2. He dropped to 11th before finding momentum through the field, ultimately charging past several competitors entering the tri-oval.
Larson edged teammate William Byron by just 0.041 seconds, earning his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory on a drafting superspeedway. He also finished
fourth in Stage 1 and second in Stage 2, collecting 71 points throughout the afternoon.
The victory significantly strengthened Larson's championship position. He leaves Talladega atop the Chase standings with 2,441 points, holding a 73-point advantage over Denny Hamlin following the dramatic finish.
With only Martinsville Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway remaining, Larson has positioned himself to potentially clinch his third NASCAR Cup Series championship before the season finale.
All it takes is 59 points and a 77-point gap to make Larson a three-time champion.
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Kyle Larson close to 2026 NASCAR Cup Series title, clinching scenarios
