Larson ends winless streak, boosts NASCAR title hopes
Larson ends winless streak, boosts NASCAR title hopes. Skip to main content Skip to navigation Larson ends winless streak, boosts NASCAR title hopes1dHamilton concedes F1 title after early Spain DNF2dNate SaundersUgochukwu becomes first American F3 champion2dESPN News ServicesNorris hits out at rules after losing 'deserved' win2dNate SaundersAntonelli wins again as Norris, Hamilton suffer2dESPNMax vs 100: How Verstappen's karting years made an F1 champion – and prepared him for an all-new test1hLaurence EdmondsonMax vs 100 explained: Rules, drivers, shortcuts and how Verstappen can win15hESPNMax vs 100: Meet the drivers racing against Red Bull's Verstappen16hGrace Allen and Alicia TurnerRussell follows Hamilton in conceding title to Kimi20hLaurence EdmondsonHonda replacing engine chief after poor start to '2621hLaurence EdmondsonSpanish GP takeaways: Kimi Antonelli marches on as Lando Norris suffers, Madring falls flat21hAlicia TurnerMax vs 100: F1 drivers predict how Verstappen will fare racing 100 drivers23hLaurence EdmondsonMadring's F1 debut left everyone dissatisfied, even Spanish GP's top 31dLaurence EdmondsonSpanish Grand Prix: F1 drivers pushing for 'obvious' changes to Madring after debut2dNate SaundersSpanish Grand Prix results: Kimi Antonelli capitalises on Lando Norris misfortune for another win – as it happened2dAlicia TurnerMax vs 100: When is Verstappen race, how to watch on Disney+, how it works, who's taking part?
What happened
Kyle Larson ended a 51-race winless streak Sunday in a crash-filled NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway that shook up the playoff standings. Career, background and F1 records2dESPNVerstappen to F1: Consult drivers on new circuits3dLaurence EdmondsonAntonelli expects 'grandmother driving' at Madring3dAlicia TurnerSainz dealt major blow at home race in Madrid3dAlicia TurnerNorris on pole: 'Everything just came together'3dNate SaundersAssociated PressMultiple AuthorsSep 13, 2026, 07:33 PM ETEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMADISON, Ill. — Kyle Larson ended a 51-race winless streak Sunday, edging Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman in overtime of a crash-filled NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway that shook up the playoff standings.
"The second race in NASCAR's new postseason Chase format gave significant boosts to the championship hopes for Larson and Joey Logano, a three-time Cup Series champion who finished third and added 19 stage points. Larson, the defending series champion, took his No. "It takes a lot more than just having the fastest car to win a Cup Series race," said Larson, acknowledging Joey Logano had the best car. "When you have an opportunity like that and you have a car like that, you need to win," said Logano, who won the pole and led a race-high 96 laps, 16 more than Larson.
After several Chase contenders were involved in late crashes, the race was red-flagged with 11 laps to go, just after Larson swiped the lead from Logano, and again with two left in regulation.
The wider picture
Larson benefited from his crew's decision on lap 202 to put four tires on while Logano took two to maintain track position. Larson racked up 73 points in the race to jump from seventh to second in the Chase standings, nine behind Hamlin. 5 Chevrolet to Victory Lane for the first time since May 2025 at Kansas Speedway after defending the lead on three restarts in the final two laps of regulation and seven laps of overtime. The track formerly known as Gateway was the only regular stop on the series where Hendrick hadn't won.
"You still have to execute a day from start to finish with good pit stops, good restarts, good strategy, and we had that today. What was supposed to be a 240-lap race in suburban St. Louis featured a season-high and track-record 18 cautions. It was marked by dramatic brake failures and several spinouts without any contact between cars.
What has been reported
Hendrick's William Byron, who was last in the 16-driver Chase field, finished fourth and was followed by Ross Chastain. Denny Hamlin, the defending race champion, placed ninth to maintain his points lead. Christopher Bell, the winner of last week's Southern 500, is another nine points back in third place after two of 10 postseason races. "We were strong last week, and this week we were not strong, and still, we maintained the lead. "A series of final-stage crashes had significant Chase implications.
On Lap 141, Bubba Wallace dove under Chase Briscoe's No. 19 Toyota going into Turn 1, creating four-wide traffic on Gateway's tighter series of turns. Briscoe had no room to move up the track, and Wallace spun around after he was forced onto the curb.
What happens next
Briscoe also went sideways, and Byron slammed into Wallace's spinning No. The three — each of them in the 16-driver Chase field — dropped into positions 29-31 on the restart, and the impacts could have reached even further. Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Ty Gibbs were also racing in the same pack, and Chase Elliott was able to squeeze under Wallace as he whirled around entering the backstretch. On Lap 213, Elliott had an apparent brake issue and collected Briscoe as both crashed into the wall in Turn 1.
"I stepped on the brakes and, yeah, exploded a rotor, and that was that was about it, so I was kind of hanging on," Elliott said "Really unfortunate. Thought we were yeah having a really solid day, honestly. I was kind of right there around the top five.