Kyle Larson
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates winning the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in front of the second placed Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, in Jiddah, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
AUTO RACING: F1 championship battle comes down to final race

By The Associated Press 9 hrs ago

Series champions Ben Rhodes, third from left; Kyle Larson, center; and Daniel Hemric, third from right, join the hosts on stage at the end of the NASCAR Awards on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
NASCAR's love of Nashville creates energized celebration

By Jenna Fryer Dec. 04, 2021 10:36 AM EST

Chase Elliott does a burnout during the Burnouts on Broadway competition as part of NASCAR Champion's Week, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Chase Elliott extends run as NASCAR's most popular

By Jenna Fryer Dec. 02, 2021 07:25 PM EST

NASCAR driver Kyle Larson poses with the NASCAR Cup Series championship trophy in front of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, two days after winning the series championship in Avondale, Ariz. Larson toured Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Tuesday, the first driver to get an up-close look at what NASCAR plans when it shifts to the season-opening exhibition Busch Clash Feb. 6 on a purpose-built track inside the Coliseum. Larson, as the champion, is the only driver locked into the field so far.(AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)
Larson comes full circle with Hendrick in winning 1st title

By Jenna Fryer Dec. 02, 2021 03:11 PM EST

Lewis Hamilton de la escudería Mercedes celebra en el podio su victoria en el Gran Premio de Qatar, el domingo 21 de noviembre de 2021. (AP Foto/Darko Bandic)
AUTO RACING: Formula One hosts 1st Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

By The Associated Press Dec. 01, 2021 02:24 PM EST

FILE - Kyle Larson, center, talks with his crew chief Cliff Daniels, right, before qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 29, 2021 in Charlotte, N.C. Daniels, fresh off his first NASCAR championship as a crew chief, still isn’t getting much sleep. He’s in Nashville to celebrate the Cup title won with Kyle Larson and the No. 5 team while his wife is back in North Carolina expecting the birth of their second child at any moment. (AP Photo/Ben Gray, File)
Crew chief Cliff Daniels rode intense drive to NASCAR title

By Jenna Fryer Dec. 01, 2021 02:19 PM EST

FILE - Team owner Rick Hendrick laughs on pit road during qualifying for the Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Fla., Feb. 10, 2019. The NASCAR championship will pit Rick Hendrick against Joe Gibbs as both team owners put a pair of drivers in the final four. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Rick Hendrick to collect Cup for 14th NASCAR championship

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 30, 2021 11:53 AM EST

Ben Rhodes (99) lifts the cup after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway, Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
In The Pits: NASCAR caps 2021 looking ahead to future growth

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 29, 2021 02:50 PM EST

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain waves from the podium after winning the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix. In Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. On the left is second placed Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and on the right third placed Alpine driver Fernando Alonso of Spain. (Hamad I Mohammed, Pool via AP)
AUTO RACING: Hamilton tightens F1 championship race again

By The Associated Press Nov. 24, 2021 07:10 AM EST

Jimmie Johnson, left, listens to crew chief Chad Knaus, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, at Road Atlanta Raceway in Braselton, Georgia. Johnson and Knaus won a record-tying seven NASCAR championships together before their relationship fractured and they split in 2019 after 17 seasons together. The two have been reunited by work four times this season as Knaus has run a sports car team that Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports put together in partnership with Action Express in four IMSA endurance sports car races this year. Both say their relationship is currently in a good place. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)
Knaus thriving in management role at Hendrick Motorsports

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 19, 2021 10:54 AM EST

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, of Britain, celebrates his first place victory in the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. (Lars Baron, Pool Photo via AP)
AUTO RACING: Hamilton closing in Formula One title chase

By The Associated Press Nov. 17, 2021 01:59 PM EST

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, right, celebrates winning first place with second placed Mercedes'Lewis Hamilton at the end the Formula One Mexico Grand Prix auto race at the Hermanos Rodriguez racetrack in Mexico City, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
AUTO RACING: Formula One heads down season stretch

By The Associated Press Nov. 10, 2021 07:10 AM EST

NASCAR driver Kyle Larson poses at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, two days after winning the NASCAR Cup Series championship in Avondale, Ariz. Larson was the first driver to get an up-close look at what NASCAR plans when it shifts to the season-opening exhibition Busch Clash Feb. 6 on a purpose-built track inside the Coliseum. Larson, as the champion, is the only driver locked into the field so far. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)
NASCAR's new champion takes scouting trip to La-La-Land

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 09, 2021 05:16 PM EST

Fans attend a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Column: NASCAR ends season with new champions, new energy

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 08, 2021 02:09 PM EST

Kyle Larson, right, and his son Owen celebrate after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race and championship on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Larson shares NASCAR title with supportive race school

By Dan Gelston Nov. 08, 2021 03:03 AM EST

Kyle Larson celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race and championship on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Praise pours in for Kyle Larson following first NASCAR title

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 08, 2021 02:57 AM EST

FILE - Anthony Martin, right, who established the Urban Youth Racing School, speaks at a news conference as he sits with Kyle Larson driver of car No. 5, in the NASCAR Cup Series before the scheduled races at Pocono Raceway, Sunday, June 27, 2021, in Long Pond, Pa. The Urban Youth Racing School, the Philly-based program that creates opportunities in racing for minorities, played a crucial role in Larson's personal comeback. Founders Anthony and Michelle Martin were at Phoenix Raceway when Larson won the champion and said it was proof this second chance was well deserved. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono

Nov. 08, 2021 12:03 AM EST

Chase Elliott leads the field during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Elliott's bid for second championship comes up short

By John Marshall Nov. 07, 2021 08:26 PM EST

From left to right, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and Martin Truex Jr. pose before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Hamlin falls short one again at JGR for NASCAR championship

By Dan Gelston Nov. 07, 2021 08:00 PM EST

Kyle Larson is introduced to the fans before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Larson wraps up comeback season with 1st NASCAR title

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 07, 2021 07:02 PM EST