A capable AI note taker for client meetings should do more than output a transcript. It needs to work well on external calls: some clients prefer not to see unfamiliar tools joining their meetings, stakeholders expect polished follow-ups, and account teams want a consistent way to turn each conversation into a summary, action items, and documentation that is easy to share.
Two closely related questions come up repeatedly. Which AI note takers can operate without a bot entering the meeting? Most tools listed below now provide a desktop app that captures audio from the computer, so no extra participant appears. Can an AI note taker still be used when an organization blocks meeting bots? Often yes, because desktop capture does not request access to join the call. Bot-free does not automatically mean policy-approved, though: consent requirements, recording disclosures, and an employer’s or client’s IT rules still apply. This is not legal advice.
Three Ways AI Notes Are Captured in Client Meetings
Platform-native recording: Recording is initiated inside Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams. The host environment governs access, permissions, and notices.
Bot-free desktop capture: A desktop app records system audio and microphone audio without adding a meeting participant, then transcribes. Notta, Otter.ai, Krisp, Fellow, and Fireflies.ai all offer this.
In-meeting assistant (meeting bot): A notetaker joins as a visible attendee. It can be convenient, but many clients and companies restrict or block bots.
Comparing AI Note Takers for Client Meetings
Tool
Bot-free option
Standout for client work
Best fit
Notta
Notta Desktop for Mac and Windows; Privacy Mode for local transcription
Bilingual transcription in one call, live translation, Notta Memo for in-person meetings
Multilingual and international client meetings
Otter.ai
Desktop app for Mac and Windows; Notetaker bot also available
Live transcription and searchable meeting history
Recurring client calls in its six supported languages
Krisp
Desktop app with virtual microphone and speaker; optional bot mode
Noise cancellation plus transcripts, summaries, and action items
Calls from noisy environments
Fellow
Botless recording in the Mac and Windows desktop app
Agendas, AI notes, and action items in one workspace
Structured meeting prep and follow-up
Fireflies.ai
Desktop app records without a bot; Notetaker bot also available
High-volume teams that want searchable call records
1. Notta
Best for: Consultants, agencies, and client-facing teams that work across languages and need a dependable path from recording to client-ready notes.
Notta is a particularly solid fit for client meetings because it covers scenarios that commonly trip up other tools: multilingual discussions, bilingual stakeholder groups, and clients who do not want to see a bot present. Notta Desktop on Mac and Windows records microphone and computer audio directly, meaning no participant is added across 40+ meeting apps, including Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex, and Slack Huddles.
For international client work, Notta’s key differentiator is bilingual transcription, which captures two languages in a single call, along with live translation in 50+ languages and transcript translation into 40+. Real-time transcription is available across 58 languages. After the meeting, the transcript, summary, and action items are saved to the Notta workspace. Speaker identification is included on every plan, and Pro and above add exports to TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT, or XLSX to make each meeting easier to hand off. Data is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.2) and at rest (AES-256), and Notta holds SOC 2 Type II.
Two additional options make Notta workable in stricter environments or in-person settings. Privacy Mode in Notta Desktop supports on-device transcription after a one-time download of the offline speech engine, so recordings and transcripts remain local. For in-person client conversations, Notta Memo is a $149, 28g voice recorder that starts recording with a press-and-hold of a single button, transcribes in 58 languages with real-time translation, and syncs to the Notta app via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It includes a Starter plan with 300 transcription minutes a month.
Features
Bot-free desktop recording on Mac and Windows
Bilingual transcription, live translation, and transcription in 58 languages
Speaker identification, AI summaries, and action items
Privacy Mode for local offline transcription
Notta Memo recorder for in-person meetings
Pros
Strong fit for multilingual and international client meetings
No bot in the participant list in 40+ meeting apps
Covers online calls, in-person meetings, and on-device transcription in one ecosystem
Cons
Notta Desktop is still labeled beta
Notta recommends cloud transcription over Privacy Mode when you need the highest accuracy
Notta Memo is an extra $149 purchase
2. Otter.ai
Otter.ai is widely associated with live transcription and a searchable archive of prior meetings, which can be useful for tracking decisions and context across recurring client calls. Its Notetaker connects to Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams through the calendar, and meetings are packaged with an AI summary and action items.
For client environments where bots are not welcome, Otter introduced a desktop app for Mac and Windows in October 2025 that records without a bot joining. Transcription is offered in six languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and Chinese.
Features
Live transcription and AI summaries
Bot-free desktop app for Mac and Windows
Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zapier integrations on Pro and above
Pros
Searchable history across recurring client meetings
Choice of bot or bot-free capture
Cons
Supports fewer transcription languages than Notta or Fireflies.ai
The default calendar Notetaker joins as a visible participant
3. Krisp
Krisp originally built its reputation on noise cancellation and has since expanded into an AI note taker. It adds virtual Krisp Microphone and Krisp Speaker devices on Mac and Windows, allowing it to run with Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, Slack, and other calling apps without requiring a plugin, and it also includes an optional bot mode. Krisp generates transcripts, AI summaries, and action items. There is a 7-day free trial, and paid plans start at $16 per user per month, or $8 billed annually.
Krisp is a natural match for client calls from shared offices, busy home environments, or travel, because it improves audio quality for participants and for the transcript itself.
Features
Removes background noise, voices, and echo
Bot-free transcripts, summaries, and action items
Works with any conferencing app
Pros
Cleaner audio for both the call and the transcript
Works with any conferencing app without a plugin
Cons
Each meeting app must be set to use Krisp’s virtual audio devices
On-device transcription is limited to the Enterprise plan
4. Fellow
Fellow is positioned as a meeting workspace for agendas, shared notes, and action items, and it now supports recording without a bot. Botless recording in its desktop app for Mac and Windows captures the microphone and, through screen recording permission, other participants’ audio on Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack Huddles, and dialers.
Fellow displays a live transcript during the meeting, then places the full transcript and AI notes alongside the agenda afterward. A Note Taker bot is also available.
Features
Botless desktop recording
Agendas, collaborative notes, and action item tracking
Live transcript and AI notes
Pros
Preparation, recording, and follow-up in one place
Works with any meeting platform
Cons
Most useful when the whole team works in Fellow
5. Fireflies.ai
Fireflies.ai records, transcribes, and summarizes calls in more than 100 languages, with meeting search and integrations aimed at follow-up. It lists SOC 2 Type II and GDPR compliance, with HIPAA on its Enterprise plan.
Its Notetaker bot can be invited, or the Mac and Windows desktop app can be used to record system audio without adding a bot. In bot-free mode, consent notices are enabled by default: an audio message, a meeting chat message on Mac, and an on-camera watermark. Speakers are labeled Speaker 1, Speaker 2, and so on, and audio or video files are not saved. Multi-language Mode requires the Business plan.
Features
Transcription in 100+ languages
AI summaries and meeting search
Bot or bot-free desktop capture
Pros
Built-in consent notices in bot-free mode
Compliance documentation for enterprise clients
Cons
Bot-free mode does not name speakers or keep recordings
Free plan includes only limited AI summaries
What to Look for in a Good AI Note Taker for Client Meetings
Capture method: Confirm whether the tool can record without a bot. Client restrictions are often focused on visible participants.
Language coverage: International accounts require reliable transcription in the relevant language, and translation can be important when stakeholders speak different languages.
Outputs: Summaries, action items, speaker labels, and exports can matter as much as the transcript itself.
Consent: Desktop capture adds no participant, so clients may see no notice unless one is provided. Notta and Fellow leave this to the user; Fireflies adds notices by default.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which AI note takers work without a bot joining the meeting?
Notta, Otter.ai, Krisp, Fellow, and Fireflies.ai all offer desktop apps that record audio from the computer without adding a participant. Notta also offers Privacy Mode for on-device transcription.
Can I use an AI note taker if my company blocks meeting bots?
Usually, yes. Notta Desktop, for example, captures microphone and system audio without joining the meeting, so bot-blocking settings do not stop it. Company IT rules and recording policies should still be checked first, because bot-free does not mean company-approved.
What is the best AI note taker for multilingual client meetings?
Notta is a strong pick. Bilingual transcription captures two languages in one call, live translation covers 50+ languages, and Notta Memo adds transcription and real-time translation for in-person meetings. Fireflies.ai lists more transcription languages, but its Multi-language Mode requires the Business plan.
A Good AI Note Taker for Client Meetings in 2026
A good AI note taker should align with client constraints while still producing notes that can be shared immediately after the call.
Notta stands out for client meetings. It records without a bot in 40+ meeting apps, supports bilingual calls and live translation for multilingual clients, offers on-device transcription through Privacy Mode, and extends to in-person meetings with Notta Memo.
Anyone who has played live service games for a few years knows the routine: a new season, a new pass, new skins, a limited-time event, and that feeling that the game has always found something else to put in front of you.
Whether you’re playing on Xbox, PC, or mobile, the logic is pretty much the same. The format changes, the currency changes, and the name of the pass changes, but the question remains:
Is it really worth what I’m about to spend?
PUBG MOBILE is one of the games that made me pay closer attention to this because UC appears in several different contexts. The Royale Pass, crates, events, cosmetics, and limited-time offers may all use the same currency, but they don’t deliver the same kind of value.
I Stopped Comparing Prices Alone
For a long time, my thinking was pretty simple: bigger package = better deal.
And mathematically, that’s often true.
Larger packages can offer more currency per dollar spent, especially when bonuses are included.
The problem is that savings per unit aren’t the only thing that matters.
If I only need a relatively small amount and buy much more than necessary just because the “cost per UC is better,” I’m still spending more money overall.
I also end up with unused balance, which makes it easier to justify purchases I never planned to make.
Bonuses Need to Be Included in the Calculation
PUBG MOBILE makes this kind of comparison quite clear because some packages are listed with amounts such as 300 + 25 UC, 600 + 60 UC, or 1500 + 300 UC.
The number after the “+” sign isn’t just for decoration.
If a package offers 600 + 60 UC, the total used for comparison should be 660 UC.
So, when I want to understand which package actually offers better value for the money, I usually check a comparativo de pacotes de UC do PUBG MOBILE and look at three things: the total amount received, the bonus, and the effective cost per UC.
Only after that do I compare the package with what I actually want to purchase in the game.
The Royale Pass Is a Commitment to a Routine
Season passes seem straightforward because the rewards are clearly displayed.
But there’s one variable many people forget: time.
If I know I’ll be playing regularly during that season, completing missions, and keeping up with the content, the pass usually makes more sense.
If I’m at a stage where I only open the game twice a week, the same purchase can have a completely different value.
This applies to almost every live service game, whether it’s on Xbox or mobile.
The content in the pass might be great, but it still needs to fit into your routine.
Crates and Draws Require a Different Approach
I treat these completely differently from season passes.
When there’s a random outcome involved, I set my spending limit before making the first purchase.
Not after a few attempts.
Not when it feels like the reward is almost there.
Before.
This habit has helped me a lot because it prevents money I’ve already spent from becoming an excuse to keep spending.
If using my entire budget without getting the main item is going to leave me frustrated, then my spending limit is probably too high.
The Package with the Best Value Isn’t Automatically the Best Purchase
This is probably the most important point.
Imagine a large package has the lowest cost per 100 UC. Great.
Now imagine you only want one specific reward and need much less UC than that package provides.
The mathematics says the larger package is more efficient.
Your budget might say something different.
That’s why I prefer thinking in terms of the “smallest package that covers my goal” rather than the “largest package that offers the best unit value.”
These are two different questions.
Regional Pricing Also Changes the Comparison
Anyone who plays across different platforms already knows that digital prices can vary significantly depending on the currency, region, and store.
The same applies to top-ups.
Comparing an old screenshot showing a price in dollars with a current checkout price in another currency is rarely a good idea.
I prefer checking the final price at the time of purchase, in the currency I’ll actually be paying.
This helps avoid calculations based on old promotions, outdated exchange rates, or prices that don’t apply to my region.
The Checkout Is Where I Pay the Most Attention to Details
After choosing a package, comes the least exciting part: checking everything.
UID, UC quantity, currency, payment method, and final price.
When I make a recarga de UC do PUBG MOBILE, I prefer copying my UID directly from the game instead of entering it from memory.
It’s a small detail, but it’s exactly the kind of thing that can turn into a headache when something goes wrong.
I also keep the receipt or order information until I’ve confirmed that everything has arrived as expected.
Live Service Games Work Better When You Decide Before Visiting the Store
One thing I’ve learned from playing games with passes, premium currencies, and seasonal events is that the store will never run out of options.
There’s always something new.
That means “buy it now because another opportunity might not come along” almost always deserves a second look.
The best approach I’ve found is to reverse the process:
First, decide what item you want.
Then, check how much it costs.
Finally, choose the amount of currency you need.
It sounds simple, but this order helps prevent a lot of unnecessary spending.
Where ManaBuy Fits Into This Routine
When I use a platform like ManaBuy, I treat the store page as the final step.
I should already know which game, package, and quantity I want before reaching the payment stage.
If I’m browsing the store trying to figure out what to buy, I’ve probably skipped an important step.
For me, keeping these decisions separate makes live service gaming healthier: the game creates the goal, I decide whether it’s worth my money, and only then do I think about making the purchase.
My Rule Has Become Simple
After making a few mistakes, I stopped looking for the “best package” in a general sense.
Now I think about it this way:
If it’s a pass, I first check whether I’ll actually play during the season.
If it’s a direct purchase, I calculate the exact value.
If it’s a crate or draw, I set a spending limit beforehand.
If there’s a bonus, I include it in the total amount received.
If a package offers more than my goal requires, I don’t buy it just because the cost per unit is better.
This approach works for PUBG MOBILE, but honestly, it applies to almost any live service game.
In the end, the best premium currency is the currency that already has a purpose before it even enters your shopping cart.
HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Date: November 8, 2026 Series: NASCAR Cup Series Location: Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.5 mile oval) – Homestead, FL Format: 400 miles / 267 laps with three stages. Stage 1: Ends at lap 80, Stage 2: Ends at lap 165, Stage 3: Ends at lap 267
RFK RACING RACE SUMMARY: Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing concluded the 2026 season with determined effort on Sunday. Chris Buescher, led the way for RFK Sunday as he recorded a 24th place finish.
Following a qualifying spin which relegated him to a 40th place starting position, Brad Keselowski charged through the field. Concluding Stage two he was 18th, before pitstop chaos between stages changed the complexion of the race. Several cars including Keselowski and teammate Ryan Preece were jammed up in a chain reaction collision on pit road. Both Keselowski and Preece received damage that hampered their efforts moving forward. Keselowski finished 28th while Preece, who had been very competitive to that point running inside the top-15, was forced to settle for a 25th place finish.
DRIVER HIGHLIGHTS
Chris Buescher – No. 17 Body Guard by Fastenal Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Finish: 24th Start: 17th Laps Led: — Stage Results: S1- 23rd, S2-27th Headline takeaway: Chris Buescher had the best qualifying effort (17th) of all three RFK Racing cars heading into this weekend’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Texas Native coming off his 400th Cup Series start the previous weekend in Martinsville, was certainly ready for a little redemption to end the 2026 season. The No. 17 team adjusted the car constantly throughout the course of the day, with Crew Chief Scott Graves paying close attention to the track’s temperature and its impact on tire wear. With not many cautions leading to quick green flag stops, the No. 17 Body Guard Ford Mustang needed some major adjustments to unleash speed but it just did not have the opportunity to compete in the front of the pack.
Buescher Quote: “I couldn’t find any speed at the top of the racetrack, I really just felt all over the place, not the race I wanted to put together to end the season but we certainly learned a lot on where we need to improve through the chase to be better so just hoping to have another shot at it next year.”
Ryan Preece – No. 60 Kroger / Thomas’ High Protein Bagels Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Finish: 25th Start: 32nd Laps Led: Stage Results: S1-16th, S2-14th Headline takeaway: After rolling off 32nd, Ryan Preece made significant gains within the first stage of the race, moving up a total of 13 spots from the drop of the green flag. Preece and his team certainly felt they had the speed to contend with the front of the field. However, after a stack up when entering pit road the No. 60 Kroger/Thomas Protein Bagels Ford Mustang incurred some damage, leaving an inch wide gap between the nose and the splitter. The team rallied to remedy the issue to keep Preece competitive but unfortunately could not keep up the hot streak they felt they started the race with.
Preece Quote: “We were fast and then we were not. We had a really good car and a stack up on pit road just ruined our day but onto 2027 and I’ll give it another go next season in the No. 6”
Brad Keselowski – No. 6 BuildSubmarines.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Finish: 28th Start: 40th Laps Led: — Stage Results: S1-20th, S2-18th Headline takeaway: Brad Keselowski made his final start for RFK Racing and was able to flash talent and speed in the early going. After starting 40th due to a qualifying spin, he charged to mid pack by the end of Stage One. However, a pit road collision involving several cars between Stage’s Two and Three, created damage that proved costly as the race resumed.
Keselowski Quote: “Unfortunately (my RFK career) did not end the way I wanted it to. Wished we got a better finish today, we got caught up in that pit road crash. I don’t really know what happened there. Somebody in front of us crashed and about ten of us got torn up.:
Point Standings:
Preece: 15th Buescher: 16th Keselowski: 19th
Next Up:
The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the 2027 Season Opening “Clash” February 13 at Daytona International Speedway (2.5 mile Super Speedway – Daytona Beach, FL). Race time TBD with live coverage provided by FOX Sports and the Motor Racing Network.
About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 39th season in 2026, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit https://www.rfkracing.com/ and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.
Kyle Larson clinched his third NASCAR Cup Series championship prior to the conclusion of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, November 8, before he officially celebrated it at the finale’s conclusion.
The reigning two-time Cup Series champion from Elk Grove, California, did not lead a single lap throughout the finale’s 267-scheduled laps, but he accomplished his task at hand of locking up the title prior to the finale’s conclusion after finishing in fourth place following the first stage’s conclusion, with the seven stage points gained from the stage being enough to lock up the title over championship rivals Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin.
From there, Larson, who started in fourth place and race upfront in the early stages, was then tasked to pilot his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet entry home to the finish and even be competitive to cap off his late surge throughout the Chase that led him to the championship. Despite making an unscheduled pit stop under green due to cutting a right-rear tire after scrubbing the outside wall and settling in 17th place at the second stage’s conclusion, Larson managed to continue and ultimately settle in 12th place in the final leaderboard, which was more than enough to achieve his third overall Cup Series championship in six seasons and second in a row.
With on-track qualifying determining the starting lineup on Saturday, November 7, Chase Briscoe secured the final Cup pole position of the 2026 season and his second of the year with a pole-winning lap of 166.687 mph in 32.396 seconds. Denny Hamlin, Briscoe’s teammate and one of three Chase contenders eligible for the 2026 Cup Series championship battle, qualified in second place with a lap of 166.600 mph in 32.413 seconds. Hamlin’s two title rivals, Kyle Larson and teammate Christopher Bell, qualified fourth and sixth, respectively. Prior to the event, Brad Keselowski dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments that were made to his No. 6 RFK Racing Ford entry after he wrecked while qualifying.
When the green flag waved and the finale commenced, pole-sitter Chase Briscoe launched his No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE entry ahead of teammate Denny Hamlin and the field through the first two turns. Behind, Kyle Larson transitioned from the outside to inside lane as he battled Hamlin and Tyler Reddick for the runner-up spot. As the field of 40 competitors cycled around Homestead for a full circuit while battling for early spots, Briscoe led the first lap.
For the following lap, Briscoe retained a steady lead over Reddick while Christopher Bell motored his way into third place over teammate Hamlin and Larson. As Bell and Reddick battled for the runner-up spot behind Briscoe, Hamlin retained fourth place while Larson battled Austin Cindric to retain fifth place. Meanwhile, Briscoe led by four-tenths of a second on the fifth lap just as Larson muscled his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry into fourth place after overtaking Cindric and Hamlin. Following a Lap 8 salute to honor the late two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, Briscoe’s lead over Bell stood at half a second at the Lap 10 mark while Reddick, Larson and Hamlin followed suit, respectively.
Through the Lap 15 mark, Briscoe continued to lead by seven-tenths of a second over runner-up Bell and by more than a second over third-place Reddick. Meanwhile, Larson trailed by more than two seconds in fourth place while he was half a second ahead of fifth-place Hamlin. Behind, Ryan Blaney, Cindric, Daniel Suarez, Bubba Wallace and William Byron trailed in the top 10 while Josh Berry, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Austin Hill, Austin Dillon, Corey Heim, Michael McDowell, Joey Logano, Zane Smith, Chris Buescher, Ty Dillon, Ross Chastain, Ryan Preece, Justin Haley and Ty Gibbs followed suit in the top-25 mark, respectively.
At the Lap 25 mark, Briscoe had his advantage shrink down to three-tenths of a second over Reddick while Bell, who slipped to third place, trailed by a second. Behind, Larson and Hamlin continued to race in fourth and fifth, respectively, as the former was ahead of the latter by seven-tenths of a second. Briscoe maintained his three-tenths of a second lead over a hard-charging Reddick over the following five laps as Larson continued to race in between Bell and Hamlin in fourth place.
Four laps later, the leader Briscoe along with Austin Cindric and Noah Gragson pitted under green. By then, Erik Jones pitted as teammates Bell and Hamlin pitted on Lap 35. While Austin Hill, Austin Dillon, Ryan Preece, Michael McDowell, Ty Gibbs, Brad Keselowski, AJ Allmendinger and John Hunter Nemechek pitted with Bell and Hamlin, William Byron, Joey Logano, Ty Dillon, Riley Herbst, Chase Elliott, Daniel Suarez and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Blaney, Josh Berry, Alex Bowman and Zane Smith followed suit to pit under green over the next four laps. Larson and Reddick then pitted from the top-two spots on Lap 40 before Wallace pitted during the next lap.
With nearly the entire field having pitted, Corey Heim, who has yet to pit, led before he pitted prior to Lap 42. As a result, Bell cycled to the lead ahead of Hamlin, Cindric, Reddick and Briscoe, the latter of whom lost the lead after he endured a slow pit service on his entry’s left side. Meanwhile, Larson was shuffled back to seventh place behind Blaney as Bell’s advantage stood as more than a second on Lap 45. Over the next five laps, Larson gained a spot up to sixth place and Hamlin was overtaken by Reddick for the runner-up spot while Bell had his advantage shrink down to six-tenths of a second.
On Lap 53, Reddick reeled in and overtook Bell for the lead. As Reddick led, Hamlin trailed in third place by two seconds in his No. 11 Progressive Toyota Camry XSE entry while Larson was up into fifth place ahead of Cindric and Briscoe, respectively. By then, the top-11 spots were occupied by Chase contenders as Reddick quickly stretched his advantage in his No. 45 Chumba Casino Toyota Camry XSE entry by more than a second over the next two laps. Throughout the next five laps, Heim pitted under green due to an engine issue while Reddick had his advantage shrink down by four-tenths of a second over Bell as Hamlin, Blaney and Larson trailed in the top five, respectively.
By Lap 65, Reddick stretched his advantage back up by nearly two seconds over Bell while Blaney moved into third place. Behind, Hamlin, who raced in fourth place, was only half a second ahead of Larson as Blaney battled and overtook Bell for the runner-up spot a lap later when Bell barely scrubbed the outside wall entering the frontstretch and got loose. Bell, though, was quick to battle Blaney back and reassume the runner-up spot as Larson started to reel in Hamlin for fourth place.
Amid the battles within the top-five mark, where Bell, Hamlin and Larson had made contact with the outside wall at least once, Reddick led by three seconds on Lap 70. Prior to the Lap 75 mark, Larson outdueled Hamlin for fourth place as Reddick continued to lead by more than three seconds. Larson then started to reel in Bell for third place, the spot Larson needs to finish at the first stage’s conclusion to clinch the 2026 championship early, as the laps in the first stage period dwindled.
Then on Lap 77, the finale’s first caution flew when Briscoe, who was racing in seventh place, blew his engine and left both a big trail of smoke and spilled fluid cross the frontstretch. Briscoe’s engine failure, which knocked the pole winner out from further contention, concluded the first stage period as Reddick was awarded his third Cup stage victory of the 2026 season. Blaney, Bell, Larson and Cindric settled in the top five. By then and with both Heim and Briscoe out from further contention, Larson, who settled in fourth place, officially clinched the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship. Hamlin, Wallace, Suarez, Byron and Elliott ended up in the top 10, respectively, as 28 of 40 starters were scored on the lead lap. Under the finale’s first stage break period, the field led by Reddick pitted. Following the pit stops, Reddick exited pit road first ahead of Bell, Blaney, Larson and Hamlin while Wallace, Cindric, Byron, Elliott and Suarez followed suit, respectively.
The second stage period started on Lap 88 as Reddick and Bell occupied the front row. At the start, the latter two dueled for the lead in front of Larson, Hamlin and a stacked field for a full cycle as Bell used the outside lane to lead the next lap. Seconds later, Bell had a tire rub on the left side of his No. 20 DeWalt/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry XSE entry as he made contact with Reddick. Amid the contact, Bell continued to battle Reddick to retain the lead while Hamlin moved into third place over Suarez and Larson. Bell led the Lap 90 mark as he continued to duke and just fend off Reddick for the lead while Hamlin retained third place over Larson, Suarez, Cindric, Wallace, Byron, Zane Smith and Elliott by Lap 95.
Through the Lap 100 mark, Bell led by a second over Reddick while Hamlin maintained third place by more than a second over Larson. Behind, Cindric raced in fifth place ahead of Suarez, Zane Smith, Wallace, Byron and Alex Bowman while Austin Hill, Elliott, Logano, Berry, Ty Gibbs, Haley, Blaney, Austin Dillon, Preece and Allmendinger trailed in the top 20, respectively. Meanwhile, Buescher was the lowest-running Chase contender on the track in 25th place as Bell proceeded to maintain a three-tenths of a second lead over Reddick by Lap 110 while Hamlin, who retained third place, was two seconds ahead of Larson.
Then on Lap 118, Larson made an unscheduled pit stop under green due to a right-rear tire puncture on his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry, an incident that started when he scrubbed the outside wall. Not long after, another cycle of green flag pit stops slowly started as Noah Gragson, Erik Jones, Bowman, Byron, Ty Gibbs, Keselowski, McDowell and John Hunter Nemechek pitted prior to or at the Lap 120 mark. Cindric, Zane Smith, Elliott, Logano, Ty Dillon, Buescher and Hill pitted over the next three laps before Hamlin pitted by Lap 124. As more names pitted, Bell and Reddick pitted from the top-two spots on Lap 126, with both Bell and Reddick barely scrubbing the outside wall entering the frontstretch earlier.
Following the pit stops, Bell outdueled Reddick to remain in front of the latter upon blending back on the racing surface as Hamlin cycled his No. 11 Progressive Toyota Camry XSE entry to the lead. With Bell overtaking Cindric for the runner-up spot and Reddick settling in fourth, Larson cycled up to fifth place and 29 competitors were scored on the lead lap as Hamlin led by more than a second at the event’s halfway mark between Laps 133 and 134.
By Lap 140, Hamlin continued to lead by half a second over Bell while Reddick, Cindric, Byron, Bowman and Zane Smith followed suit, respectively. Meanwhile, Larson was scored in eighth place and he spent the next 10 laps getting as high as seventh place before he dropped to 10th place on Lap 150, during which Hamlin retained the lead by half a second over Bell.
When the second stage period concluded on Lap 165, Hamlin captured his sixth Cup stage victory of the 2026 season. Bell settled in second by seven-tenths of a second while Reddick, Cindric, Blaney, Byron, Bowman, Elliott, Zane Smith and Suarez were scored in the top 10, respectively. Meanwhile, Larson drifted back to 17th place as 23 of 40 starters were scored on the lead lap. During the finale’s second stage break period, the lead lap field led by Hamlin returned to pit road for service amid a stack-up. Following the pit stops, Hamlin retained the lead by exiting pit road first while Reddick, Bell, Byron, Cindric, Blaney, Bowman, Elliott, Smith and Ty Gibbs followed suit, respectively.
With 94 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Hamlin and Reddick occupied the front row. As the start, the field stacked and fanned out entering the first two turns as Hamlin rocketed to the lead over Blaney and Byron while Reddick briefly stumbled from the outside lane’s front row. As Hamlin led the next lap, he proceeded to lead with 90 laps remaining while Blaney, Byron and Suarez battled for the runner-up spot. Meanwhile, Reddick and Bell were mired in fifth and sixth, respectively, while Larson, who restarted 18th, was in 19th.
Down to the final 80 laps, Hamlin led by half a second over a hard-charging Blaney while Reddick trailed in third place by a second. Behind, Bell trailed by three seconds in fifth place on the track behind Byron while Cindric, Suarez, Wallace, Gibbs and Bowman were in the top 10, respectively. Meanwhile, Larson was scored in 20th place in between Michael McDowell and Logano as Hamlin maintained the lead over the next 20 laps over Blaney.
Then with 55 laps remaining, Bell pitted from the top five under green. Teammate Ty Gibbs pitted not long after along with Austin Dillon before Larson and Byron pitted with 52 laps remaining. Meanwhile, Blaney reeled in and battled Hamlin for the lead amid lapped traffic and with Hamlin barely getting into the wall. Through the frontstretch, Reddick gained a big run to execute a bold overtake on Blaney and Hamlin to assume the lead another lap later. As more names that included Zane Smith, Berry, McDowell and Logano pitted, Reddick and Hamlin pitted with 49 laps remaining while Blaney and Wallace, both of whom have yet to pit, occupied the top-two spots.
With 45 laps remaining, Byron cycled as the leader over Bell, Reddick, Hamlin and Gibbs while Blaney, who pitted from the lead, was mired back in sixth place in front of teammate Cindric, Bowman, Wallace and Berry. Meanwhile, Larson was in 13th place in between Gragson and McDowell as Byron led by six-tenths of a second in his No. 24 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry over Reddick and eight-tenths of a second over Hamlin with 40 laps remaining.
Down to the final 30 laps, Byron stretched his late lead by nine-tenths of a second over Reddick and nearly two seconds over Hamlin while Blaney and Bell occupied the remaining top-five spots over Gibbs, Cindric, Wallace, Bowman and Berry, respectively. By then, Larson settled in 13th place and he trailed the lead by 28 seconds while teammate Byron proceeded to lead by within a second over Reddick and Hamlin at the final 20-lap mark.
Then with 15 laps remaining, the caution flew when Suarez, who was racing in 11th place, spun through the first two turns after he was hit by Noah Gragson when Gragson slid up into Suarez. By then, Byron led by more than one-and-a-half seconds over Reddick and he was followed by Reddick, Hamlin, Blaney, Gibbs and Bell while Larson was in 12th place. During this caution period, the lead lap field led by Byron pitted for service. Following the pit stops, Byron barely beat Hamlin and Reddick off of pit road first as they were followed by Blaney, Wallace, Bell, Bowman, Cindric, Berry and Larson, respectively. Amid the pit stops, Bowman was penalized for speeding on pit road.
The next restart with eight laps remaining featured Byron motoring ahead of Hamlin and Reddick to retain the lead through the first two turns as the field fanned out through the turns and the backstretch. As Byron led the next lap, Hamlin and Reddick reeled in on Byron while battling for the runner-up spot as Bell and Blaney also reeled in and joined the battle. Reddick then moved to the left and shot to the inside of Byron entering Turns 3 and 4. This allowed Reddick to assume the lead and lead the next lap while Byron, Hamlin, Bell and Blaney remained in pursuit.
Then entering Turns 3 and 4, Hamlin scrubbed the outside wall. This stalled Hamlin’s momentum as Byron, Bell and Blaney motored away from Hamlin while Wallace moved into the top five. With Hamlin losing ground of the lead, Reddick maintained a steady lead over Byron, Blaney and Bell with five laps remaining. At the final three-lap mark, Byron and Blaney reeled in on Reddick as Blaney stepped on the gas and muscled his No. 12 Menards Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry past Byron from the inside lane through the first two turns. Blaney then drove up to Reddick’s rear bumper and challenged the latter for the lead with two laps remaining. After being blocked by Reddick through the backstretch, Blaney used the outside lane to storm past Reddick and assume the lead through Turns 3 and 4.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Blaney assumed command over Reddick, Byron and Bell. With the latter trio unable to mount a final-lap charge, Blaney cycled back to the frontstretch and claimed the checkered flag for the final Cup Series race victory of the 2026 season, all while Larson officially celebrated his third Cup Series championship after taking the checkered flag in 12th place.
Overall, Larson, who won the title by 49 points, became the 11th competitor to achieve three-plus championships in the NASCAR Cup Series division and he joins Lee Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Tony Stewart and Joey Logano as having three current titles. Larson also became the first competitor to win Cup titles consecutively since Jimmie Johnson achieved the previous feat for five consecutive seasons (2006-10).
Larson’s third Cup championship in 2026 is the record-setting 16th overall for Hendrick Motorsports and the third for crew chief Cliff Daniels, the latter of whom has achieved all of his championships with Larson. Larson caps off his 12th full-time season in the Cup Series division and sixth in a row driving for Hendrick Motorsports with three victories, all of which were achieved throughout the Chase amid a winless regular-season stretch. He also notched 15 top-five results, 21 top-10 results, 1,238 laps led and an average-finishing result of 14.5.
Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“You definitely think about it, but try not to,” Larson said on the frontstretch on NBC. “I’m just so proud of my team, first and foremost. Hendrick Motorsports, this was statistically probably one of our worst years. To still come away with a championship just shows how resilient everybody at the race shop is, everybody on my No. 5 team, all my teammates…and GM too, Chevrolet, all the key partners there. We absolutely could not have done what we did in the Chase without the teamwork that it took. That’s what this championship makes it so meaningful is just the teamwork, which all of them took teamwork but this one more than any of them.”
“All three [championships] mean something way different,” Larson added while on the championship stage. “This one is somewhat similar [to last year’s], but such a different format that really takes consistency. We had a new car this year. The Chevrolet [stock car] was just hard to get used to in the beginning. We all worked really hard at Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet. We were just building and I could feel we were OK, but I definitely didn’t think we would go on the run that we id in this final 10 weeks and to get three wins, be as consistent as we were. It’s just a true testament to Cliff’s [Daniels] leadership, honestly. We would not have a single championship without him. I am so thankful to have him in my corner…He’s a Hall of Famer already as well.”
“The adversity was really important for us just to lean into it as a team,” Cliff Daniels, Larson’s crew chief, added. “If you handle it the right way and we have a lot of great people, great leaders arond us that you can learn so much about yourself. Our team has a lot of moments in our history, Hendrick Motorsports does really, of showing that resilience. Our team knew how to dig deep, knew how to stay together and just keep fighting. Even though we weren’t the fastest car all the times this year, we had a very resilient team. We had a lot of dedicated people and just so grateful for that and very grateful that we finished it off.”
“We’re really honored to have both Cliff [Daniels] and Kyle [Larson],” Rick Hendrick, Owner of Hendrick Motorsports, added. “They’re just an awesome combination. The guys have worked really hard all year. We didn’t look too good early on and we said, ‘Hey, we just got to dig in and don’t listen to any distractions.’ That’s what everybody did and it’s paid off.”
As Larson celebrated his 2026 championship, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin capped off their 2026 seasons on pit road as the duo fell short of winning their first titles. Bell, who won the 2026 Chase opener at Darlington Raceway for the Southern 500, settled in a career-best runner-up spot in the final standings while 49 points shy of his first title. He notched a pole, 16 top-five results, including eight runner-up results, and 20 top-10 results in his seventh consecutive year racing in the Cup Series division and sixth with Joe Gibbs Racing. For Hamlin, he ended up in third place in the 2026 standings and 56 points shy of his first elusive title in his 21st attempt. Nevertheless, Hamlin caps off the 2026 season with four victories, a season-high six poles, 16 top-five results, 24 top-10 results and his sixth top-three result in the final standings.
Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“I’m really proud of just the consistency that we had,” Bell said. “Its throughout the course of even 2025, we went on that hot stretch and won a lot of races early on and then, we kind of fell off. This year consistently, we were in the mix. We were in there for contention of race wins and obviously, disappointed that we didn’t win more, but just happy and thrilled and thankful that I’m in position Something to build on and hopefully, we can execute a little bit better and get that grand prize at the end.”
“[The race] was really good,” Hamlin said. “Just made lots of gains from Friday to the race tonight. [I’m] Really happy with the effort we put forth there on the racetrack today. Just going for it there at the end and cost us some spots, got in the wall, but I definitely wanted to try to win. That was a fun race. We certainly picked up a little speed from where we were on the other mile and a half last time. We had a great year. Every way you can measure the year, it’s been really, really good. Congrats to [Larson]. They deserve everything. They performed absolutely incredible during these last 10 races. We are extremely happy with the 36 races that we put together. It’s really tough to do in this sport and certainly felt good to be competitive from the first race to the last.”
Photo by Mitchell Pavel for SpeedwayMedia.com.
In the midst of the 2026 championship battle, Ryan Blaney achieved the final Cup Series race victory of the 2026 season following his overtake on Tyler Reddick prior to the final lap. For Blaney, the Homestead victory marks his fourth Cup victory of this season, the 21st of his career, his first victory since New Hampshire Motor Speedway in mid-September and his first at Homestead, a track that he was beaten by Reddick on the final corner and final lap in 2024. Blaney, who led three times for seven laps, wraps up this season in fourth place in the final standings with 2,407 points as he sets his sights on contending for his second Cup title in 2027.
“Every time I come [to Homestead], that [2024] race haunts me and kind of how I gave that one away,” Blaney said. “I didn’t do a very good job at the end of that race and learned from it and was able to apply some stuff we learned a couple years ago in that situation to tonight. Pretty cool night, battling back from having to come back down pit road. Car was really, really fast. I appreciate everybody for sticking with it, even though we weren’t part of the championship fight. Our goal was to try to win the race and end on a high note and get the most points that we can. I can’t thank [our partners] enough for a really fun year and we’ll re-rack and hopefully, be better next year. [Larson’s team] are awesome and hopefully, we can race with them next year.”
Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.
Tyler Reddick, who led 53 laps, settled in the runner-up spot behind Blaney on the track and in fifth place in the final 2026 standings in a year where he notched a season-best six victories, including the Daytona 500. William Byron, Bell and Bubba Wallace finished in the top five while Hamlin, Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez, Noah Gragson and Michael McDowell completed the top-10 finishing order, respectively.
Chase Briscoe, Joey Logano, William Byron, Ty Gibbs, Austin Cindric, Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, Daniel Suarez, Carson Hocevar, Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher finished sixth through 16th, respectively, in the final Chase standings. Shane van Gisbergen emerged as the highest-finishing non-Chase contender in the standings in 17th place over teammate Ross Chastain.
Notably, Josh Berry finished 13th in his final start with Wood Brothers Racing, Brad Keselowski finished 28th in his final start with RFK Racing, John Hunter Nemechek finished 30th in his final start with Legacy Motor Club, AJ Allmendinger and Ty Dillon finished 23rd and 31st in Kaulig Racing’s final event racing Chevrolets before the organization switches to Dodge in 2027, and Riley Herbst finished 33rd in his final start with 23XI Racing. Connor Zilisch, the 2026 Cup Series Rookie of the Year, finished 19th and Justin Haley finished 21st while subbing for the suspended Carson Hocevar. Lastly, JJ Yeley and Casey Mears finished 36th and 37th in their 400th and 500th Cup career starts, respectively.
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race produced 18 lead changes among eight leaders and three cautions over 23 laps. In addition, 25 of 40 starters finished on the lead lap.
Results:
Ryan Blaney, seven laps led
Tyler Reddick, 53 laps led, Stage 1 winner
William Byron, 38 laps led
Christopher Bell, 46 laps led
Bubba Wallace, one lap led
Denny Hamlin, 87 laps led, Stage 2 winner
Austin Cindric
Daniel Suarez
Noah Gragson
Michael McDowell
Ty Gibbs
Kyle Larson
Josh Berry
Zane Smith
Austin Hill
Alex Bowman
Joey Logano
Todd Gilliland
Connor Zilisch
Erik Jones
Justin Haley
Chase Elliott
AJ Allmendinger
Chris Buescher
Ryan Preece
Austin Dillon, one lap down
Ross Chastain, one lap down
Brad Keselowski, one lap down
Cole Custer, one lap down
John Hunter Nemechek, one lap down
Ty Dillon, one lap down
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., one lap down
Riley Herbst, two laps down
Shane van Gisbergen, two laps down
Cody Ware, three laps down
JJ Yeley, five laps down
Casey Mears, six laps down
Chad Finchum, 10 laps down
Chase Briscoe – OUT, Engine, 33 laps led
Corey Heim – OUT, Electrical, two laps led
*Bold indicates Chase Drivers
Final Chase Standings:
Kyle Larson
Christopher Bell -49
Denny Hamlin -56
Ryan Blaney -94
Tyler Reddick -104
Chase Briscoe -115
Joey Logano -115
William Byron -157
Ty Gibbs -166
Austin Cindric -195
Bubba Wallace -208
Chase Elliott -214
Carson Hocevar -242
Daniel Suarez -258
Ryan Preece -275
Chris Buescher -289
The NASCAR Cup Series’ teams and competitors enter an off-season period before returning to action at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, in February 2027 to commence a new season of competition. The 2027 season commences with the Wheatley Vodka Clash at Daytona on February 13, followed by the 69th annual running of the Daytona 500, which will follow suit on February 21.
Event: NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale (Round 36 of 36) Series: NASCAR Cup Series Location: Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.5-mile oval) Format: 267 laps, broken into three stages (80 laps/85 laps/102 laps)
Race Winner: Ryan Blaney of Team Penske (Ford) Stage 1 Winner: Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing (Toyota) Stage 2 Winner: Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
RWR Finish:
● Cody Ware (Started 35th, Finished 35th / Running, completed 264 of 267 laps)
RWR Points:
● Cody Ware (35th with 264 points)
Race Notes:
● Ryan Blaney won the NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale to score his 21st career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his fourth of the year and his first at Homestead. His margin over second-place Tyler Reddick was .314 of a second.
● Kyle Larson won the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship. He is now a three-time Cup Series champion and one of just 11 drivers to win at least three Cup Series titles. Larson is also the 14th driver to win back-to-back championships.
● There were three caution periods for a total of 23 laps.
● Twenty-five of the 40 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
Sound Bites:
“This RWR team built a good car. Unfortunately, luck didn’t go our way in the race, but we had a pretty competitive Super.com / Rocket Doctor Chevrolet. I feel like we’ve got something to build on going into the offseason.” – Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Super.com / Rocket Doctor Chevrolet
Next Up:
The 2027 season begins with the non-points Wheatley Vodka Clash on Feb. 13 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway before its 36-race slate of points-paying events kicks off Feb. 21 with the 69th Daytona 500. Both races will be broadcast live on FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Connor Zilisch has officially been named the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year.
The 20-year-old Zilisch from Charlotte, North Carolina, commenced the 2026 season with the rookie title all but locked up virtually as he was the lone full-time rookie candidate who was contesting for the title, a feat that had not occurred since 2011 with Andy Lally. Ultimately, he locked it up on the headlines after he finished in 19th place during the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, November 8.
Zilisch, the first American to win the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy and who also achieved LMP2 victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, made his inaugural presence in the Cup Series division at Circuit of the Americas in March 2025. Driving the No. 87 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing, he ended up at the tail end of the field in 37th place after he was involved in a multi-car accident in the early laps of the final stage period. He then competed in two additional Cup events throughout the 2025 season, where he finished in 23rd place at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May amid his first Coca-Cola 600 campaign before he finished in 11th place at EchoPark Speedway in July.
After settling in the runner-up spot in the 2025 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship standings with a season-high 10 victories and the rookie title, Zilisch moved up to a full-time Cup campaign with Trackhouse in the No. 88 Chevrolet entry as he was paired with two-time O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship-winning crew chief Randall Burnett. His first full season competing in NASCAR’s premier series would be a challenging year that commenced with a 33rd-place result in his first Daytona 500 campaign in February when he was collected in a multi-car accident on Lap 85 through the frontstretch’s tri-oval area.
Two races later, Zilisch recorded his first top-15 result of the season by finishing 14th at Circuit of the Americas before he endured more on-track difficulties. Through the first 17-scheduled events, the North Carolina native finished outside the top-25 mark 12 times and he sustained five DNFs, including three in a row in the forms of accidents at Charlotte, Nashville Superspeedway and Michigan International Speedway from mid-May through early June.
At Sonoma Raceway in June, Zilisch achieved a breakthrough moment when he notched his first career top-10 result in the Cup division by finishing in seventh place. A week prior, he led eight laps during the series’ inaugural event at San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado before he was involved in a vicious multi-car wreck during a Lap 31 restart that collected teammate Shane van Gisbergen. Following Sonoma, however, Zilisch finished as high as 11th on the track for the remaining eight regular-season events on the schedule, which occurred at Iowa Speedway. Mired within his 11th-place run were three additonal DNFs and seven results of 25th or worse, which kept him out of contention to make the 2026 Chase.
Throughout the 10-race Chase stretch, Zilisch tied his career-best result of seventh at World Wide Technology Raceway in September, he achieved a career-best third-place starting spot at Talladega Superspeedway in mid-October and notched six top-25 results. After taking the final checkered flag of the 2026 Cup Series season in 19th place at Homestead, he wrapped up his rookie campaign in the series in 33rd place in the driver’s standings with 410 points.
Overall, Zilisch becomes the second consecutive competitor from Trackhouse Racing to achieve the Cup Series rookie title, the third consecutive Chevrolet competitor to achieve the feat in recent years and the first competitor from North Carolina to lock up the title since Ty Gibbs made the latest achievement in 2022. He finished on the lead lap in 12 of the 36-race schedule, notched an average-qualifying result of 22.8 and an average-finishing result of 26.4, accumulated 10 top-20 results, including two top-10 results, and five top-10 starting spots as he sets his focus on regaining his competitiveness for the 2027 season.
“I’d be lying if I said [this year] was what I hoped for,” Zilisch said during a press conference at Homestead on Friday, November 6. “It certainly hasn’t been a picture-perfect year by any means, but I’m just glad the last few months we’ve started to show some growth and I feel like I’ve gotten better as the year has gone on. It’s certainly taken time and there’s been some rough patches for me for sure and that’s been mentally and inside the race car. It’s definitely taken a toll on me, but these last few months, I feel like we’ve been qualifying better, running better and ast least in the game, staying on the lead lap and just doing the basics. Hopefully, we can continue that going into next year, but yeah, certainly not the year I hoped for or wanted, but proud of myself for sticking through it and getting some results on the back end.”
Zilisch is set to remain at Trackhouse Racing for the 2027 Cup Series season before he replaces Alex Bowman to drive the No. 48 Chevrolet entry in 2028, with Bowman campaigning for a final full-time NASCAR season next year.
The 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season is scheduled to commence with the Wheatley Vodka Clash at Daytona International Speedway on February 13. This event will then be followed with with 69th annual running of the Daytona 500 that will occur on February 21 and air on FOX Sports, MRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.
Austin Dillon and the No. 3 BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet Team Earn 26th-Place Finish in NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Finish: 26th Start: 21st Points: 24th
“Hate to finish it this way for everyone on the No. 3 BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet team. Our car was fast on the first run. We took off and were inside the top-15. Unfortunately we had an issue with the jack on our first pit stop and that lost us track position we fought to get back the rest of the race. The team never gave up, but we never seemed to land on the right adjustment, and the damage we sustained during the pit road stack up only complicated things. We learned a lot in 2026, and it was a tough year for everyone. We will get to work now to begin 2027 on a strong note.” -Austin Dillon
Austin Hill and the No. 33 Rebel Bourbon Chevrolet Team Push Forward to 15th-Place Finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Finish: 15th Start: 11th Points: 32nd
“First and foremost, I’m proud of this team and what they have pushed through the last five months. They kept their heads down in unthinkable circumstances after we lost Kyle Busch, and I appreciate the effort they gave each and every week. We had a solid weekend to end the season, which is a positive and something to build on for next year. After a good qualifying run with our Rebel Bourbon Chevrolet, we knew we had to get through the first eight to 10 laps of a run and then the pace would start to even out. Our car built loose on entry and exit as the run continued, but we consistently stayed right near the top-10. The field stacked up getting on pit road under a stage caution and our nose got pushed in a lot. That definitely tightened me up in traffic and hurt our speed. We should have finished better but we fought until the end.” -Austin Hill
Ford Racing Notes and Quotes NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race — Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday, November 8, 2026
RYAN BLANEY DRIVES MUSTANG TO SEASON FINALE VICTORY FOR SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON
Ryan Blaney’s win today is his fourth race of 2026 and 21st of his career.
The win is Blaney’s first at Homestead-Miami Speedway and is the second straight year he has won the Championship Race.
Blaney has now won four races in each of the last two seasons and has won three or more in four straight years.
It also marks Team Penske’s 114th series win with Ford.
Today is Ford’s 756th all-time win in NASCAR Cup Series competition.
RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Mustang Dark Horse – VICTORY LANE INTERVIEW – WALK US THROUGH THE FINAL RESTART. “We restarted third and went to fourth, so I just tried to pick the lane I thought was gonna go the best. We did a good job getting to second. I was able to wrap the bottom really well on both ends and was able to inch up on some guys and I got a really good corner of one and two. The 45 protected on the bottom and I was able to get to his right-rear and hold him off for the last lap. It’s was some really cool fight by this team for coming back the way we did and just bringing a really fast car and working on it all night. That’s a fun end to the season.”
END WITH A WIN AND YOU FINISH FOURTH IN THE STANDINGS. HOW DOES THAT FEEL? “You definitely want to end on a high note. We hated coming in here and not having a shot to win a championship, but the best thing we could do was try to win the race and get as much points as we can and we’ll see where it takes us, so I was really happy we were able to execute that today and get all we could.”
DOES THIS FEEL LIKE REDEMPTION FOR WHAT HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO HERE? “It does. I’m going to be honest with you. Every time I come here, that race haunts me. I kind of gave that one away. I didn’t do a very good job at the end of that race. Learned from it. Was able to apply some stuff we learned a couple years ago in that situation to tonight. Pretty cool night battling back from coming down pit road. Car was really, really fast. I appreciate everybody for sticking with it. Even though we weren’t part of the championship fight, our goal was to try to win the race, end on a high note, get the most points we can. Appreciate Menards, Dutch Boy, Ford Racing. The Ford Mustang, appreciate all the work they do and continue to do. Advance Auto Parts, DEX Imaging, Wabash, the Wurth group, Discount Tire, BODYARMOR, everybody that puts into our program, I can’t thank them enough for a really fun year. We’ll re-rack and hopefully be better next year. Congratulations to Kyle Larson, Mr. Hendrick, Cliff Daniels, championship number three, two in a row. Those guys are awesome. Hopefully we can race with them next year.
HOW DID YOU NOT LET THE PIT ROAD ISSUE RUIN YOUR FOCUS? “It’s early enough. It was end of the first stage. Knew we had time. Knew it was going to be difficult, but our car was really fast. Just hoped we could make our way through there. Then we got to really see a big strength in our car, was able to be versatile. Honestly, I think that helped me coming through the field like that is I knew what my car needed all around the racetrack. I had to run around these lanes I wasn’t running before that. I think that helped us prepare for the last run of the race. Sometimes things might hurt initially, they might help you down the road. I appreciate all the fans watching. We did this interview last year at Phoenix. Appreciate all the support. Have a good winter.
Ford Finishing Results:
1st – Ryan Blaney
7th – Austin Cindric
9th – Noah Gragson
13th – Josh Berry
14th – Zane Smith
17th – Joey Logano
18th – Todd Gilliland
24th – Chris Buescher
25th – Ryan Preece
28th – Brad Keselowski
38th – Chad Finchum
AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “That was much needed for our team, just being able to capitalize on another great Discount Tire Ford. The last stage of the race was probably our weakest, but still to come home with a top 10 is really strong. And to finish top 10 in points is the most important. We were kind of points racing there to the end, but with everything that’s gone on the last couple weeks, it’s a nice way to end the season. I appreciate everyone’s effort from Team Penske, Ford Racing and looking forward to introducing a new car next year.”
NOAH GRAGSON, No. 4 Long John Silver’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse – WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE ON THE INCIDENT WITH SUAREZ? “That was 100 percent on me. I drove it down to the bottom and I crossed the seam and got loose and I was chasing it. I didn’t want to get into Suarez, obviously. We were racing hard there at the end, but, truthfully, I never want to spin out a competitor. It kind of helped out both of us unfortunately with the caution, but a strong day. We didn’t have the weekend on Friday or Saturday with practice or qualifying that we necessarily wanted to. This is one of my favorite racetracks. Running the fence is so much fun. There’s a hole in the right-rear quarterpanel because I ran it pretty much the whole race, but this is really good for our team to come home in the top 10 and go into the offseason with a little bit of momentum. It’s good for Ryan Blaney to win the race. I appreciate Ford Racing, Long John Silver’s and everybody at Front Row Motorsports. It’s been a grind of a season, but grateful to come home top 10 and have a better mood going home tonight.” HOW DOES IT HELP GOING INTO THE OFFSEASON? “It’s one race. It’s probably my best racetrack and I feel like this is a place where we can at least contend and be competitive. I know I didn’t really show during practice and in the race. I was pretty frustrated at that, but it’s good momentum. We’ve got to keep cleaning it up and keep getting better, have better pit stops. I need to do a better job behind the wheel. If everybody can do one or two percent better each week, I think there’s a lot of potential out of this group. I don’t know if we fully showed it yet. It kind of sucks, but, at the same time, I know the potential is there and that kind of makes me happy too that if we fire on all cylinders, we’re gonna be good.”
JOSH BERRY, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “I was proud of the adjustments we made. We got our car much better towards the end of the race and it looked like we were in position to get a top 10 before that last caution. We had a good stop, but the line stacked up really bad on the restart and just kind of lost a bunch of momentum. I was a little too tight and lost a few spots, but, all in all, it was a really fun night. It’s been a fun two years, and I’m proud of how we ended this deal. I’m thankful for the opportunity, everybody at Wood Brothers, Team Penske, Ford Motor Company, Ford Racing. It’s been a lot of fun, so we’ll close this season and go on to what’s next.”
TOYOTA FINISHES SEASON WITH FOUR CAMRYS INSIDE TOP 10 AT HOMESTEAD-MIAMI Reddick Comes Up Just Short in Exciting Late Race Duel
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (November 8, 2026) – Toyota finished the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season with four Camry drivers finishing in the top 10 in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Tyler Reddick was the top-finishing Toyota with a runner-up result with Christopher Bell (fourth), Bubba Wallace (fifth) and Denny Hamlin (sixth) rounding out the top 10 for Toyota.
Camry drivers led 222 total laps (of 267) around the 1.5-mile south Florida oval with Hamlin leading a race-high 87 laps.
Five Toyota Camry XSE drivers finished inside the top 10 in the final 2026 Cup Series standings. Bell finished second behind the series champion, Hamlin placed third and Reddick finished fifth. Chase Briscoe was sixth, and Ty Gibbs closed out the year ninth in the standings.
TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Homestead-Miami Speedway Race 36 of 36 – 400.5 miles, 267 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Ryan Blaney* 2nd, TYLER REDDICK 3rd, William Byron* 4th, CHRISTOPHER BELL 5th, BUBBA WALLACE 6th, DENNY HAMLIN 11th, TY GIBBS 20th, ERIK JONES 30th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK 33rd, RILEY HERBST 39th, CHASE BRISCOE 40th, COREY HEIM *non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 Chumba Casino Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing
Finishing Position: 2nd
Where did the race get away from you over the last few laps?
“I haven’t seen a replay yet, but it was Denny (Hamlin), (William) Byron, and out of nowhere here comes the 12 (Ryan Blaney) through those guys quick, and just from my seat it seemed like he was really good around the bottom of (turns) 3 and 4 so I tried to at least keep him behind me until we go there. Me being me, I felt like if it played out how I wanted it to, I would have stalled his momentum out and ran the top of (turns) 3 and 4, but he just had too big of a run, I think. I blocked low and it seemed in the moment he was still able to break the plane of my back bumper, and I lost the ability to have the top lane. Very fitting that it played out the way that it did but pretty much exactly the same as what we did in 2024. Thanks to Chumba Casino, Toyota and everyone at 23XI Racing for a great season.”
CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 Interstate Batteries/DEWALT Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 4th
How was your race?
“We were fine in the daylight with our DEWALT Interstate Batteries Camry. Just, I don’t know. I was really loose in the daylight and pretty fast and we felt like whenever the nighttime came that we were going to get better and honestly, it was the opposite. Just kind of got a little bit worse compared to the guys up front. I don’t know. Overall, a really solid day running top five and almost running top three in the stages. We did what we needed to do today, but didn’t do what we needed to do throughout the previous nine.”
BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 Columbia PFG Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing
Finishing Position: 5th
How was your race?
“Oh man, as much as we say that we’re excited for the offseason, I hate that it’s over with. These guys behind me gave me a great car tonight — all year long. Let them down a lot, but tonight was pure grit starting 18th and quickly getting up to the top 10 in stage one and then figuring out what I needed to do to be better here at Homestead. This is one of my favorite places, but damn, it kicks my ass just about every time I come here. I’ve still got a lot more room to go, but man I appreciate Columbia. They’ve been such a great partner of mine for so many years and many years to come. I want to get them a win, but this is a hell of a way to cap off a great season with them with a top five and on to the offseason.”
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Progressive Insurance Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 6th
How strong was your Camry in today’s race?
“It was really good. I’m really proud of the whole Progressive Toyota team. We made lots of gains from Friday to the race tonight. Really happy with the effort we put forth there on the race track today. Just going for it there at the end and cost us some spots getting into the wall. Definitely wanted to try to win. It was a fun race. Certainly, we picked up a little steam from where we were on the other mile and a half last time.”
CHASE BRISCOE, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 39th
Did you have any indication from the car that it was expiring?
“No. We were really good there pace wise, and then in the middle of (turns) three and four, we had a little bit of a vibration and then obviously it blew up there on the front straightaway. Sure unfortunate, I felt like we were going to be in the mix. That pit stop kind of set us back, but I felt like we were going to be back up there and contend with our Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Toyota. Just unfortunate. Hopefully somehow we can get lucky and still finish fourth in points, but I don’t know what happened. Toyota will go back and look at it. I appreciate everything they’ve done all season long. We’ve won a lot of races, and they do everything they can to give us the best engines they can, sometimes stuff like that just happens. That’s racing. Instead of going on to next week, we will go to next year.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of over 50 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
NASCAR Cup Series Homestead-Miami Speedway Team Chevy Press Release Nov. 8, 2026
Kyle Larson, Chevrolet Claims 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Chevrolet’s 35th Driver Championship, Larson’s Third Title in NASCAR’s Premier Series
Earning a fourth-place finish in Stage One of the season finale race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kyle Larson drove Chevrolet to its 35th all-time, and second consecutive, NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championship. The feat marks the manufacturer’s fourth Driver Championship in the past seven NASCAR Cup Series seasons, following Chase Elliott’s first-career title in 2020 and Larson’s 2021, 2025 and 2026 titles.
The title marks Kyle Larson’s third career NASCAR Cup Series Championship, making him the second active driver – and 11th all-time in history – to win at least three championships in NASCAR’s premier series.
Kyle Larson delivered Hendrick Motorsports its 16th NASCAR Cup Series Championship, extending the organization’s all-time record. Larson is the third driver to earn at least three championships in NASCAR’s premier series under the Hendrick Motorsports banner.
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 8, 2026) – For the second consecutive season, Chevrolet and Kyle Larson have earned the NASCAR Cup Series Championship, capturing the title following a fourth-place finish in Stage One of the season finale race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The championship marks a title-winning debut season for the latest edition Camaro ZL1 racecar, which made its competition debut at the start of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Chevrolet’s championship tradition spans nearly seven decades, with Larson’s crown extending that legacy to 35 driver championship titles in NASCAR’s premier series.
Larson is the 11th driver in history to earn the honors as a three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, while also becoming the first driver to win back-to-back titles since Jimmie Johnson’s run of five-straight from 2006 to 2010.
“Congratulations to Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the entire No. 5 Chevrolet team on their third NASCAR Cup Series championship,” said Mark Reuss, president, General Motors. “Championships are earned through preparation, trust and execution, and this team demonstrated all three throughout the 2026 season. They stayed focused through adversity, and performed the best when it mattered most.”
Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team built their championship charge with a standout postseason, combining race-winning speed with sustained execution throughout the 10-race Chase. After entering the postseason as the seventh seed, Larson finished sixth or better in each of the opening six races, including victories at World Wide Technology Raceway and Kansas Speedway. His 2.83 average finish across that stretch ranked as the best six-race run in the series’ postseason history since the format was introduced in 2004. Following a setback performance at Phoenix Raceway, the team rebounded with a dramatic victory at Talladega Superspeedway, where Larson rallied from 11th on the final lap to earn his first drafting-track win. With a hard-fought ninth place finish at Martinsville Speedway, the Chevrolet driver took a 67-point lead to South Florida, setting the stage to mathematically clinch the title at the end of Stage One of the championship-deciding race.
Hendrick Motorsports’ 2026 championship extends its NASCAR Cup Series record to 16 driver titles, all earned under the Chevrolet banner. The organization captured its first championship with Jeff Gordon in 1995, launching a legacy that includes titles with five different drivers: Jimmie Johnson (seven), Jeff Gordon (four), Kyle Larson (three), Terry Labonte (one) and Chase Elliott (one).
“We also congratulate Rick and Linda Hendrick, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Andrews, Chad Knaus and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports on the organization’s 16th NASCAR Cup Series championship,” added Reuss. “This achievement reflects the leadership and teamwork that are hallmarks of Hendrick Motorsports. We’re proud of our partnership and honored to celebrate another championship together.”
The NASCAR Cup Series will return to the track at Daytona International Speedway with the Wheatley Vodka Clash on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2027
About General Motors
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future.
GM Motorsports, including the Cadillac Formula 1® Team develops and proves advanced technologies in the most demanding environments, accelerating innovation in performance, safety, efficiency, and electrification for its production vehicles. Cadillac Racing is one of the leading manufacturers in the IMSA and FIA World Endurance Championships (WEC). Chevrolet competes in single seaters in the US IndyCar series, and in NASCAR with multiple team partners and drivers. Corvette customer teams compete in GT series across the globe including IMSA and WEC. Learn more at GM.com.
