NASCAR champion Kyle Larson wins first Talladega race in last-lap rally
The gist
NASCAR champion Kyle Larson won the YellaWood 500 at Talladega by 0.041 seconds over teammate William Byron.
The win lifts him 73 points clear in the Chase with two races left.
How it unfolded
- Oct 25, 2026Larson rallied from 11th to first on the final lap to win the YellaWood 500, beating Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron by 0.041 seconds in a three-wide finish. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was third, 0.066 seconds back.
- Oct 25, 2026Larson took the white flag in the lead but lost 10 spots after being bumped by Austin Hill. A 15-car crash forced a 13-minute cleanup and overtime, and a 12-car crash on lap 132 effectively ended the title hopes of Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick.
- Oct 25, 2026With his third win in seven races, Larson moved 73 points ahead of Denny Hamlin in the Chase standings with two races remaining. He led 21 laps and scored 16 stage points, the most of the day.