Larson wins NASCAR Cup title; Blaney takes season finale

Kyle Larson clinched his third Cup Series championship in six years, his second in a row, by finishing fourth in the first Stage of the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The title also gave Hendrick Motorsports its record 16th Cup championship since 1984.

Larson never led the final race. William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin fought for the win over the closing laps, with Hamlin leading 87 laps before scraping the wall with six laps to go. Blaney passed Reddick two laps from the end to take his 21st career victory by 0.314 seconds.

Blaney said it offered some redemption after Reddick had passed him on the final lap two years earlier, adding that being the pursuer was almost easier than leading. Reddick finished second, and Blaney's result moved him from seventh to fourth in the standings.