Kyle Larson finishes third at the Martinsville NASCAR race and fails to reach Championship 4

This story has been updated with new information.

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

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

Hendrick Motorsports was given one driver in Championship 4 with William Byron after Christopher Bell was ruled to have committed a safety violation during a wall run on the final lap. Bell was originally assigned the fourth spot in Championship 4. No Joe Gibbs Racing driver reached Championship 4.

More: NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville: Live updates, standings, starting order for Xfinity 500

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

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