By Chris Perkins, Senior Writer and Editor, GM News
Never count out Kyle Larson and Team Chevy. The driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 had a relatively quiet run during the regular season of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series, with a number of top-5 finishes throughout the regular season, but no wins. Then NASCAR’s playoffs, The Chase, kicked off and Larson proceeded to dominate. Following a TKTK at Homestead Miami, Larson clinched the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship.
This is Larson’s third NASCAR Cup Series championship, adding to his 2021 and 2025 titles. Remarkably, this is the 35th championship title for a Chevrolet driver in the Cup Series, the 15th in this century alone, and the 16th total for Chevy stalwarts Hendrick Motorsports.
“Congratulations to Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the entire No. 5 Chevrolet team on their third NASCAR Cup Series championship,” said Mark Reuss, president, General Motors. “Championships are earned through preparation, trust and execution, and this team demonstrated all three throughout the 2026 season. They stayed focused through adversity, and performed best when it mattered most.
The 2026 season was a big one for Team Chevy. Coming off the high of the 2025 campaign, Chevy debuted an updated design for its Camaro ZL1 race car, presenting both a challenge and opportunity for its teams. Early races were learning opportunities, a chance to understand the updated car and how to get the best out of it. Perhaps nowhere was the promise of the car better realized than at the Yellawood 500 at Talladega, where Chevrolet drivers locked out the top six positions at the finish, led by Larson.
This year was also unique with NASCAR ending its winner-takes-all Playoffs championship format for The Chase, where the top 16 drivers at the end of the regular season battle across the final 10 races for the crown.
Despite winning the 2025 championship, Larson last won a race in May 2025. When the Chase kicked off, however, he began a historic run. He led the most laps in the first race, then won the following weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway. At Bristol, Larson came second, with victory in Kansas followed by another 2nd in Charlotte and 6th in Kansas.
Larson's Chase took a blow after crashing out in Phoenix due to a late-race tire failure, leaving him just 5 points ahead of his nearest rival. A commanding win at Talladega the next weekend—his first on a superspeedway—swung the momentum fully back in his favor. That victory was thanks in no small part to collaboration across Chevy teams, with drivers from Hendrick Motorsports, Hyak Motorsports, Haas Factory Team, and Spire Motorsports making up the top 6 in an effort to give Larson the best shot at a title.
Martinsville saw Larson fight back to a 9th place finish after losing a lap during Stage One to. That left him with a 67-point lead headed into this weekend’s race in Miami.
After finishing 4th in the first stage of the race at Homestead, Larson had mathematically clinched the championship. At the checkered flag, he came home in 12th, becoming the first NASCAR Cup Series driver to score back-to-back championships since fellow Hendrick Motorsport and Chevrolet legend Jimmie Johnson.
“We also congratulate Rick and Linda Hendrick, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Andrews, Chad Knaus and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports on the organization’s 16th NASCAR Cup Series championship,” added Reuss. “This achievement reflects the leadership and teamwork that are hallmarks of Hendrick Motorsports. We’re proud of our partnership and honored to celebrate another championship together.”
Never count out Kyle Larson and Team Chevy. The driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 had a relatively quiet run during the regular season of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series, with a number of top-5 finishes throughout the regular season, but no wins. Then NASCAR’s playoffs, The Chase, kicked off and Larson proceeded to dominate. Following a 12th place finish at Homestead Miami, Larson clinched the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship.
This is Larson’s third NASCAR Cup Series championship, adding to his 2021 and 2025 titles. Remarkably, this is the 35th championship title for a Chevrolet driver in the Cup Series, the 15th in this century alone, and the 16th total for Chevy stalwarts Hendrick Motorsports.
“Congratulations to Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the entire No. 5 Chevrolet team on their third NASCAR Cup Series championship,” said Mark Reuss, president, General Motors. “Championships are earned through preparation, trust and execution, and this team demonstrated all three throughout the 2026 season. They stayed focused through adversity, and performed best when it mattered most."
The 2026 season was a big one for Team Chevy. Coming off the high of the 2025 campaign, Chevy debuted an updated design for its Camaro ZL1 race car, presenting both a challenge and opportunity for its teams. Early races were learning opportunities, a chance to understand the updated car and how to get the best out of it. Perhaps nowhere was the promise of the car better realized than at the Yellawood 500 at Talladega, where Chevrolet drivers locked out the top six positions at the finish, led by Larson.
This year was also unique with NASCAR ending its winner-takes-all Playoffs championship format for The Chase, where the top 16 drivers at the end of the regular season battle across the final 10 races for the crown.
Despite winning the 2025 championship, Larson last won a race in May 2025. When The Chase kicked off, however, he began a historic run. He led the most laps in the first race, then won the following weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway. At Bristol, Larson came second, with victory in Kansas followed by another 2nd in Charlotte and 6th in Kansas.
Larson's Chase took a blow after crashing out in Phoenix due to a late-race tire failure, leaving him just 5 points ahead of his nearest rival. A commanding win at Talladega the next weekend—his first on a superspeedway—swung the momentum fully back in his favor. That victory was thanks in no small part to collaboration across Chevy teams, with drivers from Hendrick Motorsports, Hyak Motorsports, Haas Factory Team, and Spire Motorsports making up the top 6 in an effort to give Larson the best shot at a title.
Martinsville saw Larson fight back to a 9th place finish after losing a lap during Stage One. That left him with a 67-point lead headed into this weekend’s race in Miami.
After finishing 4th in the first stage of the race at Homestead, Larson had mathematically clinched the championship. At the checkered flag, he came home in 12th, becoming the first NASCAR Cup Series driver to score back-to-back championships since fellow Hendrick Motorsport and Chevrolet legend Jimmie Johnson.
“We also congratulate Rick and Linda Hendrick, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Andrews, Chad Knaus and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports on the organization’s 16th NASCAR Cup Series championship,” added Reuss. “This achievement reflects the leadership and teamwork that are hallmarks of Hendrick Motorsports. We’re proud of our partnership and honored to celebrate another championship together.”