NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin outmuscled Kyle Larson during Sunday’s Round of 8 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, clinching his first spot in the Championship 4 since 2021.
Hamlin vs. Larson has become a familiar sight.
Sunday’s battle marked the eighth Cup event the two finished 1-2.
Hamlin, who claimed his 60th career trip to Victory Lane, continues to dominate the rivalry, winning seven times, including the first six duels. Larson snapped the streak at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 14.
Hamlin, who seeks his first drivers’ championship, and Larson, the 2021 circuit titleholder, are also running 1-2 in the playoff standings. Larson enters Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway 35 points above the cutoff line.
Every 1-2 finish by Denny Hamlin & Kyle Larson
Las Vegas 10/2025 – Hamlin 🏆
Bristol 4/2025 – Larson 🏆
Dover 4/2024 – Hamlin 🏆
Bristol 9/2023 – Hamlin 🏆
Kansas 5/2023 – Hamlin 🏆
Darlington 9/2021 – Hamlin 🏆
New Hampshire 7/2017 – Hamlin 🏆
Richmond 9/2016 – Hamlin 🏆 https://t.co/ATHlt5zTYp— NASCAR Insights (@NASCARInsights) October 13, 2025
NASCAR National Series Weekend Schedule
Here is a list of NASCAR National Series events this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway (All Times ET):
Friday
- 12:30 p.m.: Truck Series qualifying
- 4 p.m.: Truck Series Love’s RV Stop 225 race
Saturday
- 11:30 a.m.: Xfinity Series qualifying
- 1:30 a.m.: Cup Series qualifying
- 4 p.m.: Xfinity Series United Rentals 250 race
Sunday
- 2 p.m.: Cup Series YellaWood 500 race
We stand in their way of locking into the #Championship4. pic.twitter.com/psSWrROGvk
— Talladega Superspeedway (@TALLADEGA) October 9, 2025
NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 Entry List
NASCAR Cup Series officials released the entry list for Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway:
Entry, Driver, Car No.
- 1, Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
- 2, Austin Cindric No. 2 Ford
- 3, Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
- 4, Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford
- 5, Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
- 6, Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
- 7, Justin Haley, No. 7 Chevrolet
- 8, Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
- 9, Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
- 10, Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet
- 11, Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
- 12, Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
- 13, AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet
- 14, Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
- 15, Chase Briscoe, No. 19, Toyota
- 16, Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
- 17, Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford
- 18, Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
- 19, Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
- 20, William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
- 21, Austin Hill, No. 33 Chevrolet
- 22, Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford
- 23, Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota
- 24, Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford
- 25, Cole Custer, No. 41 Ford
- 26, John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
- 27, Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota
- 28, Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
- 29, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Ford
- 30, Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
- 31, Cody Ware, No. 51 Ford
- 32, Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
- 33, Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford
- 34, Anthony Alfredo, No. 62 Chevrolet
- 35, Casey Mears, No. 66 Ford
- 36, Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet
- 37, Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet
- 38, BJ McLeod, No. 78 Chevrolet
- 39, Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Chevrolet
- 40, Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet
The biggest and baddest is a little something more to race for in the #NASCARPlayoffs.
Whomp Whack Thunder by @whiskeymyers OUT NOW! pic.twitter.com/8DGBgPku7i
— Talladega Superspeedway (@TALLADEGA) September 26, 2025
