{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Kyle Larson Wins Cup Championship, Denny Hamlin Heartbreak, Xfinity & Truck Champions Crowned, and the Future of the Playoff Format","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/kyle-larson-wins-cup-championship-denny-hamlin-heartbreak-xfinity-truck-champions-crowned-and-the-future-of-the-playoff-format","audioUrl":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/FOXM8869304698.mp3?updated=1762216424","description":"Kevin Harvick, Kaitlyn Vincie, and Mamba Smith recap an unforgettable NASCAR Championship Weekend in Phoenix. They react to Kyle Larson’s thrilling Championship victory, break down the critical caution that changed everything, and discuss the heartbreak for Denny Hamlin, who dominated most of the race yet still came up short of his first Cup title. They analyze how the rest of the Championship 4 — William Byron and Chase Briscoe — performed and explain how tire wear played a major role in shaping the race. The crew also discusses Jesse Love’s Xfinity Series Championship and Corey Heim’s Truck title run, before diving back into the heated debate around NASCAR’s playoff format and what the future should look like. Mamba delivers this week’s top social media moments in Social Sips, and in Last Call, they grade Larson’s burnout and crown Kaitlyn as the official postseason points champion of the show.\n\n0:00 - Intro\n\n2:15 - Championship Weekend Recap\n\n1:00:25 - Mamba’s Social Sips\n\n1:12:23 - Last Call!\n\nGAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY).\n\nPlease Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD).\n\n21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Terms: draftkings.com/sportsbook. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Sponsored by DK.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices"},"annotations":[{"startTime":254.0,"endTime":256.0,"type":"car","title":"Oldsmobile Intrigue","url":"/cars/oldsmobile/intrigue","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/1998_Oldsmobile_Intrigue%2C_Rear_Left%2C_10-28-2020.jpg","quote":"and that want to be there. The intrigue, yes. The intrigue of where it is and knowing tha...","canonicalId":"car:oldsmobile:intrigue","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"SsmIntrigue (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":2724.0,"endTime":2726.0,"type":"car","title":"Chevrolet Corvette","url":"/cars/chevrolet/corvette","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Chevrolet_Corvette%2C_BAS_24%2C_Brussels_%28P1170387-RR%29.jpg","quote":"...or a trophy and a check. I want to drive a yellow Corvette grow my hair out and listen to Heavens on Fire by...","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:corvette","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)"}},{"startTime":3580.0,"endTime":3581.0,"type":"car","title":"Buick Grand National","url":"/cars/buick/grand-national","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/1987_Buick_Grand_National.jpg","quote":"And I think that calling it the Grand National series so that everybody knows what the","canonicalId":"car:buick:grand national","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"MeanBuicks at English Wikipedia (Public domain)"}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"FOX Sports","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/kyle-larson-wins-cup-championship-denny-hamlin-heartbreak-xfinity-truck-champions-crowned-and-the-future-of-the-playoff-format/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}