Kyle Larson wins the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Championship

The NASCAR Cup Series caps off what has been a season to remember at Phoenix Raceway for the Championship race. This comes down to Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr for the title in the 312 lap race. This race also marks the final race for the Gen-6 car, as it debuted in 2013. This also marks the final race of cars having five lug nuts, in which the NextGen car will have a single lugnut, as well as the final race for Chip Ganassi Racing. This race also marks the final start for Starcom Racing, the JTG No. 37 car, and possibly Ryan Newman, who is one of the remaining few active drivers to race with Dale Earnhardt Sr.

Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott led the field to the green flag to begin the final race of 2021. Chase Elliott was able to clear Larson for the lead to begin the race. The first caution came out on lap seven when Corey Lajoie made contact with Bubba Wallace, turning Wallace into the wall. The race resumed on lap 12 with Elliott in the lead as Larson went to pit and restarted in the back. Another caution happened between Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Corey Lajoie. Ryan Blaney and soon-to-be ex-teammate Brad Keselowski led the field to the restart on lap 21. Larson was now ahead of the championship contenders. Larson and Elliott began to battle for second and the championship lead as Elliott was looking fast. Kevin Harvick made great speed and got around both Larson and Elliott as he’s trying to avoid his first winless season since 2009. Martin Truex Jr got around Larson for fourth and now looks to catch Elliott while Harvick caught the leader, Ryan Blaney. Harvick and Blaney battled side-by-side, which helped Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr catch up to the leaders. Truex then got around Chase Elliott for third and the championship lead on lap 47. Harvick then took the lead from Blaney on lap 49, creating a four-car battle between Harvick, Blaney, Truex, and Elliott. Blaney took the lead back a lap later. Then Truex took the lead away on lap 51. From there, Martin Truex Jr would win stage one. 

Elliott and Truex led the field to begin Stage Two on lap 84. Elliott pulled away with the lead with Truex second, Larson third, and Hamlin fourth. On lap 121, Martin Truex Jr took the lead back from Chase Elliott as he tries to work around lapped traffic. The caution came out a big after when Quin Houff blew a tire and hit the wall hard as this would mark the final race for Starcom Racing. The team sold its charter recently. During pit stops, Truex had a slower pit stop, causing him to lose spots. Elliott and Harvick led the field back to the green flag on lap 136. Elliott cleared Harvick while Larson took second. On lap 140, Ricky Stenhouse Jr wrecked and broke his suspension to bring out a caution. On the next restart on lap 146, Elliott pulled away once again as Larson cleared Harvick for second. Another caution came out on lap 155 when Chase Briscoe had a flat tire and spun into the wall. Kyle Larson made a big bounce back as he got off pit road right before Elliott did. Some leaders stayed out as Kurt Busch led the field back to green on lap 162. Larson and Elliott fought for the lead right after and even about made contact. Larson cleared for the lead and from there would win stage two over Elliott. 

The race restarted with 115 laps to go with Larson and Elliott on the front row. Larson and Elliott pulled away and then by lap 236, Elliott got around Kyle Larson for the lead. Larson worked to fight back but Elliott tried to put some distance from Larson. On lap 245, Denny Hamlin took second from Larson as Hamlin’s strength was longer runs. Martin Truex Jr was the first to pit under green flag but during his pit stop, Anthony Alfredo hit the wall hard from a blown tire to bring out the caution. Truex got lucky and was able to stay on the lead lap. While Larson had a slow pit stop, Truex got the lead for the restart with 58 laps to go. Elliott began to reel in Denny Hamlin for second as Truex continued to lead. David Starr had a brake rotor break with 30 laps to go to bring out a caution, which could benefit Larson and Elliott who were running better on the short run. During pit stops, Kyle Larson edged out Hamlin by inches for the lead. 

Kyle Larson restarted in the lead with Hamlin next to him and Elliott and Truex behind them. The race restarted with 24 laps to go as Larson cleared for the lead with Truex in 2nd. Truex never gave up and stuck to Larson but wasn’t able to have enough to get around him, as Kyle Larson went on to win the race and the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. He captures his 10th win of the season and finishes off what has been a dream season.