Kyle Larson claims his third NASCAR Cup Series Championship

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Kyle Larson did exactly what he needed to do at Homestead to become a three-time Cup Series Champion.

Larson and the No. 5 team claimed the Championship on points in stage one, ultimately finishing 12th place with a 49-point lead over Christopher Bell.

“We were able to win a championship with not the best race car, probably the seventh fastest car out there. That gives me a lot of confidence and hope that we’re going to continue to get our cars better and hopefully championships in the future will be easier, than what this year was,” said Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

Larson is now the first driver to win back-to-back championships since Jimmie Johnson won five in a row from 2006 to 2010.

Team owner, Rick Hendrick, now has 16 Cup Series Championships, four of those championships coming from Jeff Gordon who is now the Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports.

Larson will aim to tie Gordon’s championship number next season, who shares his competitive spirit.

“I think he [Jeff Gordon] thinks I’m so competitive with him because he is like my hero, I guess. I think he thinks that I want to beat him and get more than him, so I can say that I have more than him,” Larson said.

For Larson, it is more about the company than it is about the numbers.

“For myself, I am so happy to have three and join the list of drivers that have three, but especially, you know, just picking out one would be Tony Stewart. Tony and Jeff were the two guys that I really, really looked up to coming from Dirt Racing,” Larson said.

Just like Larson looked up to Gordon and Stewart as a kid, Larson’s own kids were able to celebrate their hero last night.

“Always when your family is there, it makes the winning moment even more special. So the championship ones are always great because it’s a big moment,” Larson said.

After his big win, Larson chose to celebrate responsibly since he has an upcoming marathon he is training for.

“I actually did not drink at all last night, but I still didn’t get much sleep. My Whoop Recovery says 1% so surprised and bummed by that,” Larson said.

The No. 5 team will have plenty of time to rest up and celebrate, but the Daytona 500 will be here before we know it in just over 100 days.