Larson Snags Lead Late, Wins Cup Series Race At Homestead

HOMESTEAD, FL – While a sweep wasn’t in the cards, Kyle Larson saved his best work for last as he took the lead late and held on to win the NASCAR Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Larson (#5 Chevrolet – Hendrick Motorsports) had won the Friday night Truck Series race and came up just short in the Xfinity Series race on Saturday. While a sweep at Homestead came oh-so-close to happening, he still punched his ticket to the NASCAR playoffs later this year.

This was the green flag for today's Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway! 🌴#NASCAR | #Homestead pic.twitter.com/fQqKBMSprk

— Jake Gibson (@JakeTheEmcee) March 24, 2025

Good, Clean Racing

Ryan Blaney looked like his former self a couple of years ago with a dominant start to the race. He experienced challenges near the end of the first stage from Alex Bowman and others but held his ground. His successful restart following a caution on lap 70 helped him earn the Stage 1 win.

Blaney had a solid start to this race, leading the most laps of anyone else. Still, he couldn’t hold off Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Bubba Wallace, who began a battle for the lead. Hamlin held on to a push from Larson to secure a Stage 2 win.

Ryan Blaney's engine just exploded. That's the second engine failure of the year for the No. 12 team. #NASCARonFS1 pic.twitter.com/UyRwsOXkw7

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 23, 2025

All the while, Blaney looked to rally for the lead, but engine failure stopped him. In the front stretch, his car went up in smoke, and despite efforts from the pit crew, his race was over then and there.

Dangers In The Pits

While the action on the track was mostly clean, the same could not be said for the pit road. There was significantly more contact than usual, resulting in rapidly changing placements. Alongside that, pit road violations were handed to drivers like Chase Elliott for not entering the pit road in a single-file line.

Josh Berry, exiting his pit stall, collided with passing cars, swerving to his left and clipping Joey Logano, who was leaving his pit stall. Both cars were sent backward into random pit stalls, losing time and requiring some repairs to the damages.

Trouble on pit road for Joey Logano, Josh Berry and Kyle Larson! 🫣 #NASCARonFS1 pic.twitter.com/3ZemgUXGU2

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 23, 2025

Wallace and Alex Bowman began competing for the lead, but Larson was lurking. Ultimately, with six laps to go, Bowman made a fatal error by making contact with the wall in Turn 3. Larson, who was right behind him, got the run he needed and made the overtake in Turn 4. He then held on for the final few laps to secure the win.

With the win, Larson now moves into second place in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, 36 points behind William Byron. Bowman still had a solid result in second place, placing 39 points back.

That’s it for NASCAR at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2025. The Cup Series will head to Martinsville Speedway this upcoming weekend, starting on Friday, March 28th.