NASCAR

NASCAR Cup Series Fans Respond To Kyle Larson Claiming Straight Talk Wireless 400 At Homestead-Miami Speedway

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By
Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published23 Mar 2025

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Cup Kyle Larson stadning on roof after win at homestead (1)

Kyle Larson didn’t run a “perfect” race Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. 

The NASCAR Cup Series driver didn’t need to. He earned the Straight Talk Wireless 400 title after outdueling his Hendrick Motorsports teammate during the closing laps. 

Like he did during Friday’s Truck Series win and Saturday’s near Xfinity Series victory, Larson proved his ability to ride the walls at the 1.5-mile oval. Able to generate downforce with the risky maneuver, Larson’s machine wasn’t as strong as an unlucky Ryan Blaney, but he took advantage of Alex Bowman’s late mistake. In the lead with six laps remaining, Bowman also attempted a wall ride, but made contact, allowing Larson to cruise into the lead. 

“I guess I choked that one away,” Bowman told Fox Sports. 

Larson secured his 30th career Cup win and second at Homestead. 

“Crazy,” Larson told Fox Sports. ““(The run) was far from perfect. I just kept plugging away.” 

X (Twitter) users responded to Sunday stock-car racing, a true American past-time …  

Getting fired up by Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb … 

 The start … 

 Hamlin and Custer make contact early … 

Bringing out the first caution on Lap 70, Christopher Bell spun out solo. Bell entered Sunday tied with AJ Allmendinger for the best average finish driving a Next Gen car at Homestead (5.3) …

Blaney claimed Stage 1. Placing P2 in consecutive Homestead outings, the No. 12 Ford pilot sought his first win at Homestead, but it eventually went up in smoke … 

Homestead is known for its narrow pit lanes. Trouble ensued on Lap 84 when a four-wide situation was created. Joey Logano and Josh Berry, who won last week’s race at Las Vegas, both spun out and entered their pit boxes backward …

Carson Hocevar led the pack at the start of the second stage. His team elected not to make a pit stop and with all other machines on fresh rubber, the No. 77 Chevrolet driver immediately fell back to P7, but remained in the top 10 through most of the second stage. He was, indeed, all over Miami … 

Denny Hamlin, who made a Stage 2 charge through the field and took the lead on Lap 100, earned his first stage win since Homestead last season … 

After a two-lap battle for first, Bubba Wallace overtook Larson along Turns 1 and 2. Wallace led for 56 laps and finished a season-best P3. The No. 23 Toyota driver needed a strong finish after placing 28th, 29th and 20th during the previous three Cup events … 

Blaney’s domination went up in smoke. After leading for 124 laps, nearly two-thirds of the race, the No. 12 Ford’s engine blew out for the second time in three outings. The 2023 Cup titleholder also lost an engine at Phoenix and has endured three DNFs … 

 After Wallace fended off Larson for nearly 10 Stage-3 laps, Bowman claimed the lead from Wallace after initiating a pass along Turn 2 and completing on the final turn of Lap 235 …  

Bowman extended his advantage over Wallace to 0.973 seconds on Lap 247. With Larson clearing Wallace and pressuring his garage mate, Bowman attempted to ride the walls along Turns 3 and 4, but made contact and lost his momentum. Larson took advantage and claimed the lead as they exited the final turn of Lap 261. Larson cruised to the checkered flag … 

Larson capped his three-race, two-win weekend with a bit of tear-up-the-machine fun … 

Father-son Victory Lane selfie …