Kyle Larson finishes third at Martinsville NASCAR race, fails to make Championship 4

This story has been updated with new information.

Kyle Larson, who won a 2024 NASCAR Cup Series best six races, will not get to drive for a championship. Larson, a former Cup champion, failed to qualify as a Championship 4 for next week’s race at Phoenix after finishing third behind Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott.

Larson has been the dominant driver all season, but needed a win Sunday at Martinsville to guarantee himself a chance in the Championship 4. He failed to get in the final four spot by seven points.

Hendrick Motorsports got one driver into the Championship 4 in William Byron after Christopher Bell was ruled to have a safety violation for a wall ride on the last lap. Bell was originally given the fourth spot in the Championship 4. No driver for Joe Gibbs Racing reached the Championship 4.

More: NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville: Live updates, leaderboard, running order for Xfinity 500

Blaney won at Martinsville to secure a spot in the final along with Bell, Tyler Reddick and Joey Logano.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Kyle Larson fails to make NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4