Did Kyle Larson win the NASCAR Cup or has Denny Hamlin lost it?

Did Kyle Larson: What Happened

Motorsport.com reported on Saturday, October 31, 2026 in a story involving Did Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing. Here is how the report opens:

At a certain point, Denny Hamlin could have done better during this Chase for the Championship but also gives Kyle Larson and the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 a lot of credit for a near flawless run to a third title in six years. The question asked of the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 driver is if he lost this championship or if Larson outright took it. “I think it's a little bit of both,”

It is one of many NASCAR stories we are following today, and 2 outlets are covering it. Below are the key takeaways, how the story is being reported across the sport, background on NASCAR Cup Series and what to watch next.

Key Takeaways

• The story: Did Kyle Larson win the NASCAR Cup or has Denny Hamlin lost it?
• Who’s involved: Did Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing and NASCAR Cup
• League: NASCAR
• First reported: Saturday, October 31, 2026 by Motorsport.com
• Coverage: 2 outlets are covering it: Motorsport.com and ESPN

How Other Outlets Are Covering It

The same NAS story, as reported by another outlet:

• Larson tempted by possibly clinching NASCAR title at MartinsvilleESPN With NASCAR history waiting to be made at Martinsville, Kyle Larson acknowledges being tempted by the tantalizing possibility of wrapping up the Cup Series title.
• What Kyle Larson needs to do to clinch NASCAR Cup title early at MartinsvilleMotorsport.com Entering Martinsville Speedway, it will take a lot for the Joe Gibbs Racing trio of contenders to put the pressure back on championship leader Kyle Larson. The more likely outcome is that Larson actually manages to…
• How to watch NASCAR at Martinsville: Schedule, start time, entry list, TVMotorsport.com NASCAR takes on the historic Martinsville short track for the penultimate round of the 2026 season across all three national divisions. In the Cup Series, Kyle Larson is on the edge of clinching the 2026 title, now 73…

Background: NASCAR Cup Series

The NASCAR Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), the most prestigious stock car racing series in the United States.

The series began in 1949 as the Strictly Stock Division, and from 1950 to 1970 it was known as the Grand National Division. In 1971, when the series began leasing its naming rights to the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, it was referred to as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series (1971–2003). A similar deal was made with Nextel in 2003, and it became the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series (2004–2007).

Text from Wikipedia’s NASCAR Cup Series article, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What’s Next for Did Kyle Larson

For fans following Did Kyle Larson, the next things to watch are the race results, qualifying, championship standings and schedule. Stories like this one tend to move quickly, so check back for follow-up reports and reaction as more outlets pick it up.

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