If you’re looking for the name of the driver who stood in Victory Lane after the most recent checkered flag, you have to look at the weird, wonderful gap between the end of the 2025 season and the official start of the 2026 schedule. Technically, the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season wrapped up with Ryan Blaney winning the final race at Phoenix Raceway. But if we are talking about the most recent "NASCAR-sanctioned" event happening right now in January 2026, the spotlight shifts to the dirt.
Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell just dominated the opening nights of the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa.
Larson took the Monday night preliminary feature win on January 12, 2026. This isn't just a fun side project; for these guys, it’s everything. Larson, who is also your reigning 2025 NASCAR Cup Series champion, clawed from fourth to first to lock himself into the big Saturday finale. Meanwhile, Christopher Bell won the Race of Champions earlier that same night. If you’re a Cup Series fan, seeing the No. 5 and No. 20 drivers trade paint on dirt is basically the appetizer for the Daytona 500.
The 2025 Finale: Who Won NASCAR Last Race in the Cup Series?
To understand where we are, you’ve gotta look back at that wild November afternoon in Phoenix. Ryan Blaney won the race itself. He was flying. But the real story—the one that had everyone screaming at their TVs—was Kyle Larson clinching the championship.
It was a total mess for Denny Hamlin.
Hamlin led 208 of the 319 laps. He looked untouchable. Then, a late caution turned the whole thing upside down. In the overtime restart, Larson managed to finish third, which was enough to beat Hamlin and the other contenders. Because of how the 2025 playoff format worked, Larson walked away with his second career Bill France Cup despite not leading a single lap in that final race.
People were heated.
Honestly, the fallout from that race was so intense that NASCAR actually changed the rules for this year. They’re ditching the "winner-take-all" finale for 2026 and bringing back "The Chase"—a 10-race points battle that rewards consistency over a single lucky restart.
Recent Winners Breakdown
Since we are in the off-season, here is a quick look at the "last" winners across the major boards before the 2026 season officially kicks off in February:
- NASCAR Cup Series: Ryan Blaney (Phoenix, Nov 2025)
- Xfinity Series: Jesse Love (Phoenix, Nov 2025)
- Craftsman Truck Series: Corey Heim (Phoenix, Nov 2025)
- Chili Bowl (Current Regional): Kyle Larson (Monday Prelim, Jan 2026)
Jesse Love's win was particularly nuts. He only won two races all year—the first one and the last one—and that was enough to make him the Xfinity champion. Talk about timing.
What's Coming Up Next?
We are only a few weeks away from the 2026 "official" season opener. If you want to see who wins the next major NASCAR race, mark your calendar for February 1, 2026. That’s when the Cup Series heads to Bowman Gray Stadium for the Cook Out Clash.
It's a huge deal because it's the first time the Clash is being held at this historic "Madhouse" track. It’s a flat, quarter-mile oval where tempers usually flare. Last year, Chase Elliott won the Clash when it was still a different vibe, but Bowman Gray is going to be a total fistfight in a parking lot.
After that, we hit the high banks for the Daytona 500 on February 15, 2025.
Why the "Last Race" Winner Matters for 2026
You might think the last race of last year doesn't matter now, but it’s setting the stage for some massive drama. Kyle Larson is entering 2026 on a 24-race winless streak in points-paying races. Yeah, he won the championship, but he hasn't actually crossed the finish line first in a long time.
That’s a huge psychological weight.
Then you’ve got Shane van Gisbergen. The "SVG" era is officially here. Last year, he won five out of six road course races. If he has figured out ovals during the winter, the rest of the field is basically in trouble.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Chili Bowl Finals: Tune in this Saturday night to see if Larson or Bell can take the "Golden Driller" trophy.
- Update Your Fantasy Roster: If you play NASCAR Fantasy, remember that Larson and Byron dominated intermediate tracks last year, while Ryan Blaney was the king of the short tracks.
- Check the New Schedule: 2026 is bringing back Chicagoland Speedway and adding a street race in San Diego. Make sure you know when your local track is hosting.
The off-season is almost over. Get your gear ready.