Larson Chases His Third Title: NASCAR Championship Race Preview, Favorite, Underdog and Storylines

Larson leads the title picture

Kyle Larson is on the verge of a third Cup Series championship, which would place him among 11 drivers to reach that total. He has won twice in his last five races at Homestead and led a track-record 645 laps there.

Larson qualified fourth for Sunday’s Championship Race. Christopher Bell starts sixth, while Denny Hamlin starts second; both are among the title contenders facing a Chase marked by mistakes and missed chances, according to the article.

The race is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET and will air on NBC and HBO Max, with radio coverage on MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Homestead returns to title weekend

Homestead-Miami Speedway hosted Championship Weekend from 2002 through 2019. After Kyle Busch won his second Cup Series title there in 2019, the championship race moved to Phoenix Raceway, a one-mile track.

The return follows the relaunch of a 10-race Chase format. Homestead is described as a fan favorite, with multiple racing lanes for drivers to compete on.

Allmendinger offers an underdog angle

A.J. Allmendinger could give Kaulig Racing a strong finish to the 2026 season. The team has also drawn attention this week for its alignment with Dodge, which is set to return to the Cup Series next season.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe won Saturday’s pole. The starting positions leave Larson fourth, Hamlin second and Bell sixth as the championship fight heads to the track.

Keselowski makes final RFK start

Brad Keselowski, the 2012 champion, will start 40th in his final full-time race with RFK Racing. He heads into the offseason seeking another opportunity. Ryan Preece will move from the No. 60 Ford to Keselowski’s No. 6 next season.