There are just two more races remaining in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season following Sunday's YellaWood 500 at Talladega. Defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson took the checkered flag following a barnstorming last lap, which saw him rise from 11th to snatch the victory on a photo finish.

However, the race wasn't without its controversy. NASCAR examined Larson's last-lap move near the double-yellow line after fans questioned whether his No. 5 Chevrolet had ventured into dangerous territory that could result in retrospective action and his win scuppered. Officials reviewed the incident and determined that Larson's tires had not crossed completely below the line.

NASCAR also reviewed whether other Chevrolet drivers had helped Larson reach the front by intentionally backing off in the closing moments of the race, prompting fans to cry that the result was "rigged."

Defending champion Kyle Larson is currently leading the NASCAR Cup Series standings with two races remaining at Martinsville and Homestead-Miami.

The No. 5 has won three races in 2026, but his overall consistency has seen him pick up 2441 total points.

The Championship "Chase" is where Larson has turned up the pressure on his rivals. He has six Top-5 finishes in eight "Chase" races so far, including all three of his wins this year.

Joe Gibbs Racing star Denny Hamlin looked like the champion in waiting for most of the regular season, where he finished at the top heading into the postseason.

However, his results have been far from flattering, which allowed Larson and Co. to play catch-up.

Still, he's just 73 points behind Larson, and still in with a shot at winning the title.

It was Larson last year, who undercut him on pit road in overtime in Phoenix, to deny him a career-first Cup Series crown.

Christopher Bell is the next JGR driver, after Hamlin, still in with a shot at winning the title. He won the "Chase" opener at Darlington and recorded three more Top-5 finishes since.

A 35th-place finish on Sunday has put a dent in his championship chances.

Still, the mathematics means he could still come out on top.

Surprise, surprise, surprise... another JGR driver, and arguably the most interesting championship challenger in recent weeks.

Chase Briscoe fired himself into contention following back-to-back wins in Las Vegas and Charlotte.

He also finished eighth in Phoenix before a disastrous DNF finish at Talladega.

Still, he's in with a shot, trailing Larson by 79 points.

Three-time NASCAR champion Joey Logano sits fifth and 100 points behind leader Larson. He suffered a scary crash at Talladega that flipped his car and caused a huge wreck.

The maximum amount of points a driver can score in a single Cup race is 76. Therefore, he's still in the mix.

Team Penske is fifth and sixth thus far, with Ryan Blaney seven points behind teammate Logano, and 107 off Larson.

23XI Racing's Tyler Reddick is likely to end 2026 as NASCAR's most "winningest" driver (6) - unless Hamlin (4) ties him by taking the checkered flag at Martinsville and Homestead-Miami.

He's 126 points off Hamlin, so still in with an outside shot. Most of Reddick's good form seemed to come at the wrong time, with five of his wins coming earlier this year.

His only postseason win came the week before last in Phoenix.