# NASCAR’s most turbulent season in decades ends with a familiar champ, Sophie Cunningham and more storm clouds

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/nascars-most-turbulent-season-in-decades-ends-with-a-familiar-champ-sophie-cunningham-and-more-storm-clouds/
- Published: 2026-11-09T14:32:32+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-09T18:05:52+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/nascars-most-turbulent-season-decades-ends-familiar-champ-sophie-cunningham-storm-clouds
- Topics: Entertainment, Motorsport, Sport, TV, World

## Key points

- Kyle Larson won his third Cup championship.
- He clinched it early in the Homestead finale.
- The column questions whether NASCAR needs more title-race drama.

## Summary

Kyle Larson clinched his third NASCAR Cup championship at Homestead, in a season the columnist describes as the sport’s most turbulent since 2001. The title was secured early in the finale, prompting questions about whether NASCAR’s return to the Chase format has made its championship race too predictable.

The article says Larson’s fourth-place finish at the end of the first stage was enough to clinch the title, about 45 minutes into the event; Ryan Blaney won the race. NASCAR chief Steve O’Donnell also gave his first substantial “State of the Sport” remarks since taking over earlier in the year, while the column raises concerns about attendance, television ratings and the sport’s wider challenges.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.