Overview
- On the late Lap 309 caution, Hendrick took two right-side tires to gain track position while Denny Hamlin's four-tire stop dropped him to 10th, and Larson held third to finish highest among the Championship 4.
- Larson said he and crew chief Cliff Daniels were aligned on the two-tire gamble and called it the decisive move that transformed a difficult night into a championship.
- Earlier, a right-front tire failure on Lap 214 cost Larson time and a lap before William Byron's tire issue brought the caution that reset the race.
- Reflecting on the moment, Larson described a quieter, more subdued finish than his 2021 title, noting he led no laps and felt his car was only average.
- He acknowledged Phoenix remains a weak spot and outlined an offseason slate of dirt races in California, Australia and Tulsa to stay sharp, while Hamlin publicly said the No. 5 team deserves the title with no asterisk.