NASCAR Championship 2026: What Kyle Larson Needs at Homestead
Kyle Larson needed just nine points at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, November 8, to clinch the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series title, and he got them in Stage 1. He led Christopher Bell by 67 points and Denny Hamlin by 70 going into the race. This page explains the scenarios as they stood before the green flag.
Updated November 10, 2026. Result: Kyle Larson wins the 2026 NASCAR Cup title at Homestead.
Last updated: November 4, 2026. Source: NASCAR.com clinching scenarios, published November 3.
How does the 2026 NASCAR championship work?
There is no Championship 4 winner-take-all race this year. In 2026, the title goes to the eligible driver with the most points at the end of The Chase, so the final at Homestead is a points decider. If drivers finish level, the tiebreaker is the number of best finishes in The Chase: wins first, then second places, and so on. It is the first Championship Weekend in South Florida since 2019.
What does Kyle Larson need to win the Cup title?
| Driver | Gap | What he needs on Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Chevrolet) | Leads | 9 points, whatever the others do |
| Christopher Bell (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing) | −67 | Win plus at least 14 stage points (or 13 plus the fastest-lap point), and Larson must score little |
| Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing) | −70 | Win plus at least 17 stage points (or 16 plus the fastest-lap point), and Larson must score little |
In practice, Larson clinches with eight stage points, or by finishing third or better in Stage 1. With no stage points at all, he needs to finish 28th or better. He also holds every tiebreaker. NASCAR notes he has never scored fewer than 18 points in 12 starts at Homestead, and Racing Insights put his title odds at 99.4% before the race. A win would be his third Cup championship.
Can Bell or Hamlin still beat Larson?
Only with a near-perfect day and a bad one for Larson. Bell has to finish eighth or better in Stage 1 just to stay in the fight, and the most he has outscored Larson in a single race this season is 46 points. Hamlin has to finish fifth or better in Stage 1, and the most he has outscored Larson in one race this year is 43 points.
Who is fighting for the O’Reilly and Truck Series titles?
The other two national series are much closer.
| Series | Race (ET) | Leader | Still in contention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craftsman Truck Series | Fri, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m., FS1 | Kaden Honeycutt (+20) | Layne Riggs |
| O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | Sat, Nov. 7, 5 p.m., The CW | Justin Allgaier (+22) | Jesse Love (−22), Corey Day (−23), Carson Kvapil (−31), Sheldon Creed (−42) |
- Trucks: Honeycutt clinches with 55 points. Riggs clinches with 75.
- O’Reilly: Allgaier clinches with 54 points, but he loses the tiebreaker to all four challengers. Love and Day could clinch with a perfect 76-point day. Kvapil and Creed needed help. Justin Allgaier went on to win the O’Reilly title and Kaden Honeycutt the Truck title.
What time is the NASCAR championship race?
The Cup Series championship race is Sunday, November 8, at 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT, 12 p.m. PT) on NBC and HBO Max. It falls on the same day as the F1 São Paulo Grand Prix at 12 p.m. ET. Plan your Sunday with our November 8 F1 and NASCAR watch guide. New to the sport? Read short tracks vs superspeedways.
FAQ
What does Kyle Larson need to win the 2026 NASCAR Cup title?
He needed nine points at Homestead. He clinched the title in Stage 1 on November 8 by finishing fourth in the stage.
Who won the 2026 Cup Series championship?
Kyle Larson. Christopher Bell (67 points back) and Denny Hamlin (70 back) were the only drivers who could still catch him before the race.
Is there a Championship 4 in 2026?
No. The 2026 champion is the eligible driver with the most points after the final race at Homestead.
What time is the NASCAR championship race on November 8?
3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT) on NBC and HBO Max.
This article is part of our guide to watching F1 and racing in the US.
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Alex is the editor of Apexline, an independent Formula 1 and US motorsport site for American fans. Alex writes race previews, results and rule explainers, checks every result, point total and session time against formula1.com and the FIA, and converts race times to Eastern, Central and Pacific time. Read how we work in our editorial policy: https://vantage97.design/editorial-policy/
