Kyle Larson Wins Playoff Race, Ends 51-Race Drought

Kyle Larson won the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway on September 13, 2026, ending a 51-race NASCAR Cup Series winless streak dating to May 11, 2025. He beat teammate Alex Bowman and Joey Logano after overtime with two restarts and two late red flags. The race set a track record with 18 cautions. The win was Larson's first of 2026, first at Gateway and 33rd Cup career win, with William Byron and Ross Chastain fourth and fifth. Joey Logano started on pole and led a race-high 96 laps, including all 45 laps of Stage 1 wire-to-wire. Larson won Stage 2 after Zane Smith hit the Turn 1 SAFER barrier. Ryan Blaney finished 35th after his brake rotor failed on the frontstretch on Lap 155; he said he had no warning. On Lap 202 Larson's crew took four tires while Logano took two, setting up Larson's lead with 11 laps remaining. Larson said, We got our swagger back. He also said, I haven't doubted myself; I haven't doubted our team. Maybe myself at times, but never my team. Denny Hamlin finished ninth and remains the points leader. His lead narrowed to nine points over Larson, who moved from seventh to second in the Chase standings after cutting a 49-point deficit.