The NASCAR Cup Series concluded the 2025 season on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. Denny Hamlin started the race on the pole, with William Byron starting second. Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Chase Briscoe were the drivers competing for the championship.
Denny Hamlin led a race-high 208 laps, including winning the second stage. Tires were an issue throughout the race. Late in the race, William Byron suffered a flat tire to bring out the caution, and the race went to overtime. Teams went to pit road. Most of them took two tires, while Hamlin’s team took four tires.
In overtime, Ryan Blaney, who led 20 laps, passed Brad Keselowski off Turn 4 to win his fourth race of the season by 0.097 seconds over Keselowski. Kyle Larson finished in third place to win the 2025 Cup Series championship. For Larson, it was his second Cup Series championship. He did not lead a lap in this race.
Joey Logano and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five. Denny Hamlin, Josh Berry, Michael McDowell, Ryan Preece, and Chase Elliott completed the top ten.
Chase Briscoe led three laps and finished in 18th place, while William Byron, who led 52 laps and won the first stage, finished in 33rd place.
There were 16 lead changes among six drivers, and nine cautions for 65 laps. The Cup Series returns for The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
