Kyle Larson Can Clinch NASCAR Title With 59 Points

Kyle Larson can put the NASCAR Cup Series championship beyond his rivals’ reach at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday by scoring 59 points under the current points scoring system, according to NASCAR’s published clinching scenarios.

The defending champion arrives with a 73-point advantage over Denny Hamlin after winning at Talladega. Two races remain in the points-based Chase, with Homestead-Miami Speedway following Martinsville.

What the 59-point threshold means

The 59-point threshold would settle the title math regardless of what the other contenders score. NASCAR also notes that Larson would still need to start the Homestead race to be officially crowned champion.

Sunday’s Xfinity 500 is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET. NBC and HBO Max are listed for television and streaming coverage, with MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio carrying audio coverage.

Larson’s Talladega victory changed the standings sharply. He entered that event just five points clear, then escaped the drafting race with his first win on that style of track and a much larger cushion.

That advantage creates a potential early conclusion, but does not require Larson to chase a single finishing position without regard to stage points. His total Sunday score is the controlling figure in the unconditional clinching scenario.

Hamlin and the remaining title contenders

Hamlin remains the closest challenger and has six Martinsville Cup victories. His Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe also need to make substantial ground as the schedule runs out.

Martinsville’s short-track demands differ from Talladega’s pack racing. Larson has won at the Virginia circuit before, while several of his pursuers have strong records there and can affect the championship calculation.

Larson is pursuing his third Cup championship and a second consecutive title. The immediate question is whether Sunday leaves enough points available for anyone to catch him at Homestead. Scoring 59 would remove that uncertainty, subject to the requirement to start the season finale.