Kyle Larson won at Gateway in double overtime, ending a 51-race drought and unofficially moving into second in the 2026 Chase.
Larson breaks through at Gateway
Kyle Larson won Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway in double overtime, snapping a 51-race winless streak in the second event of the 2026 Chase.
The Sept. 13 win was Larson’s 33rd in the Cup Series and unofficially moved the Hendrick Motorsports driver into second in the Chase standings behind Denny Hamlin.
Larson arrived at Gateway after placing fifth in the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 6. He had fought for the win before Christopher Bell passed him late.
The 51-race drought is over
Before the Chase began, Larson spoke openly about his long wait for another Cup victory. He delivered his answer at Gateway, one week after narrowly missing out at Darlington.
The Hendrick driver won Stage 2, then held on through a double-overtime finish to seal the turnaround.
The victory followed a Chase points reset that put him seventh among the 16 qualifiers with 2,045 points. Hamlin opened as the top seed on 2,100, while Ryan Blaney ranked second with 2,075.
Logano controls the first stage
Joey Logano led all 45 laps of Stage 1 at Gateway.
Larson responded by winning Stage 2 before taking the race victory. Logano entered the Chase as the ninth seed with 2,035 points after finishing ninth at Darlington.
Larson’s Gateway result extended his quick start to the Chase. A fifth-place finish at Darlington and victory in Madison, Illinois, followed a 50-race drought entering the postseason and moved him directly behind Hamlin in the unofficial standings.
Larson pressures Hamlin’s early lead
Hamlin began the Chase with the largest reset total after summer wins at Nashville, Michigan and Pocono. He finished 18th in the Darlington opener, where Bell won and closed to within 12 points.
Joe Gibbs Racing put three drivers in the top six at Darlington. Bell won and Ty Gibbs finished second, while Chase Briscoe placed sixth. Tyler Reddick took third, ahead of Blaney in fourth and Larson in fifth.
Larson’s Gateway victory puts him in the immediate battle near the top of the standings. Hendrick also has Chase Elliott and William Byron in the 16-driver field, seeded eighth and 13th respectively at the reset.
Day secures a confirmed 2027 Cup path
Hendrick Motorsports also confirmed its next move on Sept. 10, extending Day’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program and scheduling select Cup Series starts for 2027.
No races or entry details have been announced. Day’s continued O’Reilly Series role and planned Cup appearances are confirmed, while any specific 2027 lineup arrangement remains unconfirmed.
Hendrick’s current Cup focus now shifts to Larson’s title bid as the Chase continues following his 33rd career victory.
