SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It was a championship of blended feelings.
Kyle Larson, NASCAR Cup Sequence champion for a second time, was genuinely unhappy for Denny Hamlin, who was effectively on the best way to his long-awaited title earlier than William Byron’s blown right-rear tire intervened.
Byron was apologetic for having altered the course of the season, although his Hendrick Motorsports teammate was topped champion.
On Tuesday morning, together with his title celebration scheduled for that night, Larson was nonetheless making an attempt to digest the circumstances that propelled him to the championship.
“It’s such a singular format, proper?” Larson mentioned. “Certain, I’ve had races the place I really feel like I’ve stolen a win or no matter, however this one was — I didn’t even win the race! I didn’t lead a lap after which turned the champion.
“That’s the place it’s so distinctive and so completely different and so bizarre. It was such a bizarre ‘comfortable,’ proper? I’ve by no means been so comfortable to complete third earlier than in my life. It was simply unbelievable and unbelievable the way it all went.”
Larson was each shocked and gratified that Hamlin made the trouble to drop into the champion’s celebration occasion on Sunday evening.
“It actually meant quite a bit, it actually did,” Larson mentioned. “I keep in mind the final time I received a championship (2021), he didn’t come out, however he despatched me a very nice video message, and it meant quite a bit to me. And I understood how robust and difficult even that second in all probability was for him.
“Quick ahead to this weekend — a a lot more durable defeat. I didn’t anticipate him to exit. He didn’t have to. However I’m glad he confirmed up. I believe it confirmed how large of an individual he’s and the way robust of an individual he’s to come back out, suck it up and be on the market.
“We received to speak for a minute, and it was awkward, proper? I used to be simply speechless. I didn’t know what to say. I don’t suppose there was something I may say to attempt to make him really feel any higher. I may see the ache — all that.”
