NASCAR Cup Series News & Notes - Phoenix Raceway Championship Weekend

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NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: NASCAR Cup Series Championship
The Place: Phoenix Raceway
Track Type: 1 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Sunday, November 10
The Time: 3 p.m. ET
The Purse: $11,700,064
TV: NBC, 2 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 312 miles (312 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 185), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 312)

NASCAR Cup Series

Time Is Now: Championship Four to vie for the Bill France Performance Cup in Phoenix

For four drivers — Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick and William Byron – an entire season‘s worth of work will come down to this weekend‘s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway this Sunday, Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

Outperforming the rest of the Playoff field through the previous nine weeks of the postseason, has landed these four elite competitors into the series‘ Championship 4 Round vying for the title this weekend.

The chart below is a look at this season‘s Championship 4 Round drivers and how they have performed this year to this point.

This season, the Team Penske teammates Joey Logano (2018, 2022) and Ryan Blaney (2023) are looking to add another championship to their resumes and bring Team Penske its third consecutive Cup title, a feat that hasn‘t been accomplished since Hendrick Motorsports won five straight with NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson from 2006-2010.

If Logano were to win the championship this weekend, he would become just the 10th different driver to win three or more titles in the series, and the only full-time active driver to accomplish the feat.

If Blaney wins the championship this weekend, he will become the 18th different driver to win multiple championships in the Cup Series, and will join Logano (2018, 2022) and Kyle Busch (2015, 2019) as the third full-time active driver with multiple championships.

Looking to add their names to the prestigious NASCAR Cup Series Champions list are 23XI Racing‘s Tyler Reddick and Hendrick Motorsport‘s William Byron. If either Reddick or Byron were to win the title this weekend, they would become the 37th different driver to earn a championship in the series and just the eighth active full-time driver to accomplish the feat.

This season‘s NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 contenders

This weekend the fans are in for a treat.

The drama in this year‘s Playoffs is so thick you could cut it with a knife, and four of the sport‘s top drivers and teams are scheduled to battle it out one last time on a 1-mile oval in the Arizona desert, with the highest finishing contender of the Championship 4 taking home the hardware.

Here is a quick way to get to know this season‘s Championship 4 Round contenders (in order of seeding).

Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford)

• Organization: Team Penske
• Team: No. 12 Ford
• Crew Chief: Jonathan Hassler

2024 Season Rundown:

• Three wins, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s, one pole
• Led 555 laps
• Average Finish of 15.6
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.3, seventh-best

Phoenix Raceway Outlook:

• Eight top fives, 12 top 10s, three poles
• Average Finish of 10.941, third-best
• Average Running Position of 9.477, second-best
• Driver Rating of 99.2, fourth-best
• 4,468 Laps in the Top 15 (83.9%), series-most

Championship Outlook:

• Team Penske has four NASCAR Cup Series driver and owner championships (2023, ’22, ’18, ’12). Team Penske is looking to win their third consecutive title this weekend and the fifth overall for the organization. If Team Penske wins the NASCAR Cup Series championship this weekend, they will tie Joe Gibbs Racing for fifth on the all-time owner champions wins list with five titles each.
• Ryan Blaney won the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship with the No. 12 Team Penske Ford team and will attempt to defend his title this weekend. If Blaney wins the championship this weekend, he will become the first driver since NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson (2006-2010) to win consecutive titles and the 18th driver all-time with multiple titles.
• Jonathan Hassler won his first championship last season with driver Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Team Penske Ford team. If Hassler wins the championship this weekend, he will become the first crew chief since NASCAR Hall of Famer Chad Knaus (2006-2010) to win consecutive titles and the 17th crew chief all-time with multiple championships.

Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford)

• Organization: Team Penske
• Team: No. 22 Ford
• Crew Chief: Paul Wolfe

2024 Rundown

• Three wins, six top fives, 12 top 10s, three poles
• Led 307 laps
• Average Finish of 17.6
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 84.2, ninth-best

Phoenix Raceway Outlook:

• Three wins, eight top fives, 16 top 10s, two poles
• Average Finish of 13.484, eighth-best
• Average Running Position of 11.817, eighth-best
• Driver Rating of 93.4, eighth-best
• 6,770 Laps in the Top 15 (69.9%), eighth-most

Championship Outlook:

• Team Penske has four NASCAR Cup Series driver and owner championships (2023, ’22, ’18, ’12). Team Penske is looking to win their third consecutive title this weekend and the fifth overall for the organization. If Team Penske wins the NASCAR Cup Series championship this weekend, they will tie Joe Gibbs Racing for fifth on the all-time owner champions wins list with five titles each.
• Joey Logano has won two NASCAR Cup Series championships in his career (2018, 2022) with the No. 22 Team Penske Ford team. If Logano wins the championship this weekend, he will become the 10th driver all-time with three or more titles and the only active full-time driver to accomplish the feat.
• Paul Wolfe, a two-time series champion, won his first championship in 2012 with driver Brad Keselowski and the No. 2 Team Penske Ford team and then earned his second title in 2022 with driver Joey Logano and the No. 22 Team Penske Ford team (his current team). If Wolfe wins the championship this weekend, he will become the seventh different crew chief all-time to win three or more championships.

Tyler Reddick (No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota)

• Organization: 23XI Racing
• Team: No. 45 Toyota
• Crew Chief: Billy Scott

2024 Rundown

• Three wins, 12 top fives, 20 top 10s, three poles
• Led 597 laps
• Average Finish of 13.4
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.0, sixth-best

Phoenix Raceway Outlook:

• Two top fives, three top 10s
• Average Finish of 17.889, 17th-best
• Average Running Position of 13.126, 10th-best
• Driver Rating of 82.3, 13th-best
• 1,754 Laps in the Top 15 (62.3%), 11th-most

Championship Outlook:

• 23XI Racing is looking to win their first NASCAR Cup Series championship this weekend. If 23XI Racing wins the NASCAR Cup Series championship this weekend, they will become the 31st different organization to win a championship in the series all-time.
• Tyler Reddick, in his first Championship 4 Round appearance, is looking to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. If Reddick wins the championship this weekend, he will become the 37th different driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series championship, and just the fourth driver to win the Regular Season Championship and the overall season title in the same year joining Martin Truex Jr. (2017), Kyle Busch (2019) and Kyle Larson (2021).
• Billy Scott, in his first Championship 4 Round appearance, is looking to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. If Scott wins the championship this weekend, he will become the 44th different crew chief to win a NASCAR Cup Series championship.

William Byron (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

• Organization: Hendrick Motorsports
• Team: No. 24 Chevrolet
• Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle

2024 Rundown

• Three wins, 12 top fives, 20 top 10s, one pole
• Led 338 laps
• Average Finish of 13.2
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.8, fifth-best

Phoenix Raceway Outlook:

• One win, two top fives, seven top 10s, one pole
• Average Finish of 11.769, sixth-best
• Average Running Position of 10.015, fourth-best
• Driver Rating of 93.6, seventh-best
• 3,222 Laps in the Top 15 (79.3%), third-most

Championship Outlook:

• Hendrick Motorsports has 14 NASCAR Cup Series driver and owner championships (2021, ’20, ’16, ’13, ’10, ’09, ’08, ’07, ’06, ’01, ’98, ’97, ’96, ’95) — the series-most all-time. Hendrick Motorsports, in their 40th year, is looking to win their 15th NASCAR Cup Series title this weekend.
• William Byron, in his second Championship 4 Round appearance (2023, ‘24), is looking to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. If Byron wins the championship this weekend, he will become the 37th different driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series championship.
• Rudy Fugle, in his second Championship 4 Round appearance (2023, ‘24), is looking to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. If Fugle wins the championship this weekend, he will become the 44th different crew chief to win a NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Phoenix Championship Weekend awaits the NASCAR Cup Series

It was announced in March of 2019 that the NASCAR Cup Series would be moving its Playoffs‘ Championship Race from Homestead-Miami Speedway, where it had resided since the inception of the Playoffs in 2004, to Phoenix Raceway for the first time in 2020. Prior to the 2020 season, Homestead-Miami Speedway hosted the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs‘ season finale for 16 seasons (from 2004-2019). Phoenix Raceway is just the second track to host the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race in the Playoffs.

Since the inception of the Playoffs in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2004, Phoenix Raceway has occupied three different positions on the postseason schedule. In 2004, Phoenix Raceway hosted the eighth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs — the event was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. Then from 2005 — 2019 (15 seasons), Phoenix Raceway has hosted the penultimate race (ninth) in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. The 2024 season marks the fifth year the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race will be held at Phoenix Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona (2020-2024).

Since Phoenix has played host to the Championship Race in the NASCAR Cup Series, starting in 2020, there have been four different champions — Chase Elliott (2020), Kyle Larson (2021), Joey Logano (2022) and Ryan Blaney (2023).

Make sure to catch all the Phoenix Raceway on-track action this weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series practice is scheduled for this Friday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. ET on the USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Playoff Crunch Time: Who steps up at Phoenix?

Phoenix Raceway has occupied some pivotal positions on the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff schedules, and the drivers that have stepped-up and won when it mattered most (Playoff time) in the Valley of the Sun have enjoyed the spoils that come with it.

A total of 12 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Phoenix Raceway. Veteran Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in Playoff race wins at Phoenix Raceway with four victories (2006, 2012, 2013 and 2014). Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers this weekend with three wins (2007-2009).

Since hosting the series‘ Championship Race (2020-2023), the winner of the race has also won the NASCAR Cup Series title in three of the last four seasons – Chase Elliott won at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 8, 2020, Kyle Larson won at Phoenix on Nov. 7, 2021, and Joey Logano won at Phoenix on Nov. 6, 2022. Last season, Ryan Blaney finished runner-up at Phoenix to win his first title.

Among the Championship Four drivers this season — Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick and William Byron — Logano is the only driver to win a Playoff race at Phoenix previously and has done so twice — in 2016 and 2022.

In addition, 16 different crew chiefs have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Phoenix Raceway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Chad Knaus with three wins (at Phoenix from 2007-2009 all with driver Jimmie Johnson).

Plus, a total of nine different organizations have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Phoenix Raceway, led by Hendrick Motorsports with seven wins (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2020, 2021).

Five times a non-Playoff driver has won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Phoenix Raceway: Kyle Busch (2005), Kasey Kahne (2011), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2015), Matt Kenseth (2017) and Ross Chastain (2023).

• In 2005, Kyle Busch won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Phoenix Raceway, then the ninth race on the postseason schedule, and was ranked 19th in the point standings at the time of the win.
• In 2011, Kasey Kahne won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Phoenix Raceway, then the ninth race on the postseason schedule, and was ranked 14th in the point standings at the time of the win.
• In 2015, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Phoenix Raceway, then the ninth race on the postseason schedule, and was seventh in the point standings at the time of the win. Earnhardt Jr. had made the Playoffs in 2015 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.
• In 2017, Matt Kenseth won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Phoenix Raceway, then the ninth race on the postseason schedule, and was seventh in points at the time of the win. Kenseth had made the Playoffs in 2017 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.
• In 2023, Ross Chastain won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Phoenix Raceway, then the Championship race on the postseason schedule, and he was ninth in points at the time of the win. Chastain had made the Playoffs in 2023 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.

The worst finish in a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Phoenix Raceway by a driver that went on to win the title the same season was 38th by Jimmie Johnson in 2016 – then the penultimate event of the season.

Last season in the Championship Race at Phoenix, the Championship 4 Round drivers finished second (Ryan Blaney), third (Kyle Larson), fourth (William Byron) and 36th (Christopher Bell) — it was the first time in the Playoffs‘ elimination format (2014-Present) that the champion did not win the Championship Race.

Looking Back: Phoenix Raceway and the NASCAR Cup Series

In total, Phoenix Raceway has hosted 56 NASCAR Cup Series races producing 27 different pole winners and 31 different race winners. The inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway was held on November 6, 1988 and was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Alan Kulwicki.

Ryan Newman (2002, 2003, 2004, 2008) and Kyle Busch (2006, 2012, 2016, 2019) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Phoenix Raceway with four each.

This weekend, 11 of the 27 NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway pole winners are active, and three of the 11 are Championship 4 Round drivers — Ryan Blaney (three poles), Joey Logano (two poles) and William Byron (one pole).

Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Phoenix Raceway with nine victories (2006 sweep, 2012 Playoff race, 2013 Playoff race, 2014 sweep, 2015 Spring race, 2016 Spring race, 2018 Spring race).

Jimmie Johnson leads all active Cup drivers this weekend in wins at Phoenix Raceway with four (2007, 2008 sweep, 2009).

This Sunday, 10 of the 31 NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway winners are active, and two of the 10 are Championship 4 contenders this season — Joey Logano (2016, 2022) and William Byron (2023).

At Phoenix this weekend, NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Pole Qualifying will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on the USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Championship Race: A deep dive into the NASCAR Cup Series season finale

When it comes time to win or go home, there is no bigger stage in NASCAR than the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway this Sunday, Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

A total of 14 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race during the Playoff Era (2004-Present).

Greg Biffle leads the NASCAR Cup Series in Championship Race wins during the Playoff Era with three victories (2004, 2005, 2006 — all at Homestead-Miami Speedway).

Joey Logano (2018 Homestead, 2022 Phoenix), Denny Hamlin (2009, 2013 both at Homestead) and Kyle Busch (2015, 2019 both at Homestead) lead all active drivers in NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race wins with two each.

In addition, 14 different crew chiefs have won a NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race, led by Doug Richert with three wins (all at Homestead-Miami from 2004-2006 and all with driver Greg Biffle).

Plus, a total of seven different organizations have won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race (2004-2023), led by RFK Racing with six victories (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 – all at Homestead-Miami).

Hendrick Motorsports leads all organizations in NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race wins at Phoenix Raceway with two (2020, 2021).

Since the inception of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in 2004, the winner of the Championship Race has won the season title 10 times: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022.

• In 2011, Tony Stewart won from the 15th starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and as a result secured his third-career NASCAR Cup Series championship in the closest points battle in series history — tied with Carl Edwards — Stewart won the title by virtue of the tiebreaker: most wins.
• In 2014, Kevin Harvick won from the fifth starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the first year of the elimination-style format of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, as a result he won his first series title.
• In 2015, Kyle Busch won from the third starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the second year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, as a result he won his first series championship.
• In 2016, Jimmie Johnson won from the 14th starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the third year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, and as a result he tied NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the series-most championships with seven each.
• In 2017, Martin Truex Jr. won from the second starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the fourth year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, and as a result he won his first series championship.
• In 2018, Joey Logano won from the fifth starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the fifth year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, and as a result he won his first series championship.
• In 2019, Kyle Busch won from the fourth starting position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the sixth year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, and as a result he became just the second active driver at the time with multiple titles (20115, 2019) joining seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson.
• In 2020, Chase Elliott won from the first starting position at Phoenix Raceway in the seventh year of the elimination-style format of the Playoffs, and as a result he won his first series championship. Worth noting, Elliott was served a pre-race penalty and as a result of serving the penalty he actually started the race from back of the field and still won.
• In 2021, Kyle Larson won from the pole position at Phoenix Raceway in the eighth year of the elimination-style format of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, and as a result he won his first series championship.
• In 2022, Joey Logano won from the pole position at Phoenix Raceway in the ninth year of the elimination-style format of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. With the win, Logano earned his second NASCAR Cup Series championship (2018, 2022), becoming just the second active driver with multiple titles.

The worst finish in a Playoff race by the eventual series champion at Homestead-Miami Speedway was 15th, and it occurred three times: Tony Stewart in 2005, Jimmie Johnson in 2008 and Brad Keselowski in 2012.

Three non-Playoff drivers have won the season finale Playoff race: Greg Biffle (Homestead: 2004 and 2006), Denny Hamlin (Homestead: 2013) and Ross Chastain (Phoenix: 2023).

By The Numbers: Phoenix Raceway & the Season Finale

Below are some key stats and figures to take note of this Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway.

0.10 — Since the advent of electronic scoring (1993), the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway is the Spring race of 2016 (March 13, 2016), when Kevin Harvick beat Carl Edwards to the line by 0.010 seconds — which is tied with Atlanta (3/12/2000), Daytona (2/21/2016), and Rockingham (2/22/2004) for the ninth closest finish in series history.

1 — Number of miles Phoenix Raceway is in length.

1 — This is 23XI Racing‘s and Tyler Reddick‘s first time competing in the Championship 4 Round in the NASCAR Cup Series.

2 — Number of active drivers with multiple NASCAR Cup Series championships (Kyle Busch, 2015 and 2019; Joey Logano, 2018 and 2022).

2 — Number of 2024 Championship 4 Round drivers with a previous win at Phoenix Raceway — Joey Logano and William Byron.

4 — Number of NASCAR Cup Series Championship Races Phoenix Raceway has hosted (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023).

4 — The fewest laps led by the race winner in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway was four of the scheduled 378 laps (1.05%) by Ryan Newman on April 10, 2010 — he started from the 14th position.

4 — In total four different manufacturers have won at Phoenix Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series, led by Chevrolet with 27 victories and followed by Ford (19), Toyota (8) and Pontiac (2).

4 — Number of drivers that won their first career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Phoenix Raceway: Casey Atwood (October 2001), Denny Hamlin (November 2005), AJ Allmendinger (April 2010) and Alex Bowman (November 2016).

7 — Number of former NASCAR Cup Series champions entered in this year‘s season finale race at Phoenix:

8 — Number of wins from the pole or first starting position at Phoenix Raceway — most recent was Joey Logano‘s win in the Championship Race in 2022.

10 — Number of NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix Raceway that have ended with Overtime.

10 — Number of former NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix race winners entered in this weekend‘s season finale.

10 — Number of times the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series championship season finale race has won the title during the Playoff Era (2004-Present); including the last eight consecutive seasons in the elimination-style format of the Playoffs – Tony Stewart, 2011; Kevin Harvick, 2014; Kyle Busch, 2015; Jimmie Johnson, 2016; Martin Truex Jr., 2017; Joey Logano, 2018; Kyle Busch, 2019; Chase Elliott, 2020; Kyle Larson, 2021; and Joey Logano, 2022 — Note: All the wins listed were at Homestead-Miami Speedway except for Elliott‘s in 2020, Larson‘s in 2021 and Logano‘s in 2022 which were at Phoenix Raceway.

11 — Number of former NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix pole winners entered in this weekend‘s season finale.

12 — The most cautions in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway; has happened twice — most recently March 8, 2020.

14 — The number of different organization in the NASCAR Cup Series that have won at Phoenix Raceway, led by Hendrick Motorsports with 13 victories among nine drivers.

15 — The worst finish by the eventual series champion in the season finale race (at Homestead-Miami Speedway) – it has happened three times: Tony Stewart in 2005, Jimmie Johnson in 2008 and Brad Keselowski in 2012.

15 — The highest number of lap leaders in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway (March 4, 2012). The Phoenix race earlier this season had six leaders.

20 — Total number of NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races held at Phoenix Raceway (2004-2023).

20 — The age of the youngest NASCAR Cup Series race winner at Phoenix Raceway: Kyle Busch (November 13, 2005 — 20 years, 6 months, 11 days).

23 — Number of starting positions on the grid that have led to NASCAR Cup Series wins at Phoenix Raceway.

27 — Number of different NASCAR Cup Series pole winners at Phoenix Raceway; led by Kyle Busch and Ryan Newman with four each.

28 — The greatest number of lead changes in a single race at Phoenix Raceway (Feb. 27, 2011). Earlier this season the NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix produced 10 lead changes.

29 — The lowest starting position by a race winner at Phoenix Raceway (Ricky Rudd, 1995).

31 — Number of different NASCAR Cup Series winners at Phoenix Raceway; led by Kevin Harvick with nine victories.

42 — Number of most NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway starts by a driver – Kevin Harvick.

50 — The age of the oldest NASCAR Cup Series race winner at Phoenix Raceway: Mark Martin (April 18, 2009 — 50 years, 3 months, 9 days).

56 — Total number of NASCAR Cup Series races held at Phoenix Raceway.

100 — Number of different drivers that have led at least one lap in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway.

264 — The most laps led by the race winner in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway was 264 of the scheduled 312 laps (84.6%) by Kevin Harvick on November 9, 2014 — he started from the third position.

312 — Number of laps scheduled for this weekend‘s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway.

1,722 — The most laps led all-time by a driver (Kevin Harvick) in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway.

Clutch: Season Finale Title-Clinching Performances

Sunday‘s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway (Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will mark the conclusion of the 2024 season. Below is a look at how the last 14 NASCAR Cup Series season finales (2010-2023) have turned out:

2010 — Jimmie Johnson Tracks Down Denny Hamlin For Fifth Straight Title

Denny Hamlin held a comfortable 15-point lead on Jimmie Johnson for the championship heading into the season finale. However, Hamlin could not close out the title. Hamlin damaged his Toyota with an early-race spin and finished 14th as a result. Kevin Harvick, who was third in points entering the race, finished third. Johnson placed runner-up in the race to take home his fifth consecutive championship.

2011 — Tony Stewart Wins Third Championship In Epic Race

Trailing leader Carl Edwards by three points entering the 2011 season finale at Homestead-Miami, Tony Stewart virtually needed a win to capture the title — especially considering that Edwards ultimately finished runner-up in the race.

Stewart drove to the front from the back of the field twice and edged out Edwards to get to Victory Lane.

The pair finished the season tied in points, but Stewart held the tiebreaker over Edwards of most wins during the season (five to one). It was the first title for Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.

2012 — Brad Keselowski Fends Off Jimmie Johnson For First Championship

Brad Keselowski entered the 2012 season finale 20 points ahead of second-place Jimmie Johnson in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings.

Keselowski, who won two Playoff races to help put himself in championship-clinching position, didn‘t produce his best performance in the finale, with a 15th-place showing at Homestead-Miami.

But problems in the pits for Johnson caused the five-time champion to finish 36th and helped Keselowski secure his first championship, as well as the first title for Team Penske.

2013 — Jimmie Johnson Closes In On Earnhardt And Petty With Sixth Title

After building up his points lead on the strength of six wins, 16 top fives and 23 top 10s, Jimmie Johnson needed to finish 23rd or better to capture his sixth NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Following an incident on a restart just shy of the 200-lap mark, Johnson ended up 23rd when it all sorted itself out.

By the end of the race, he worked his way up to finish ninth, earning Hendrick Motorsports a record 11th championship.

2014 — Harvick Rides To Two 'Do Or Die‘ Victories To Earn First Series Title

Kevin Harvick started the penultimate race of the 2014 season needing a win to get into the Championship 4 race at Phoenix. He dominated the contest, leading 264 laps to earn the victory and a spot in the Championship 4.

After playing mind games throughout the week leading up to Homestead-Miami with the rest of the field, Harvick held off runner-up Ryan Newman to earn his first career NASCAR Cup Series title and the second for Stewart-Haas Racing.

Harvick‘s championship was the first of the 'elimination-style‘ format in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

2015 — Kyle Busch Overcomes Injury For Improbable Comeback

Just ninth months after breaking his right leg and fracturing his left foot, Kyle Busch edged out defending champion Kevin Harvick for the Homestead race win and his first NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Busch missed the first 11 races of the season after sustaining his injuries in a crash in the season-opening NASCAR Xfinity race at Daytona. He came back to win five races in the NASCAR Cup Series that year and cement his name in NASCAR history.

2016 — Johnson Ties Series All-Time Record With Seventh Championship

The six-time champion, Jimmie Johnson, proved once again to not count him out in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

Johnson won his way into the Round of 8 with a victory at Charlotte, then took the checkered flag at Martinsville to punch his ticket to the Championship 4 Round at Homestead-Miami.

He then provided a walk-off win at Homestead-Miami to capture his seventh championship, tying NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty for the NASCAR Cup Series record of most championships at seven each.

2017 — Martin Truex Jr. Earns First Championship With Underdog Team

Driving for the Denver-based Furniture Row Racing, Martin Truex Jr. turned a career-best season into a championship for the ages.

His victory in the Homestead-Miami finale was a personal best eighth on the year. He led the final 34 laps and held off a hard charging Kyle Busch by .681-seconds to earn the trophy hoist and his first title.

It was an emotional victory, team owner Barney Visser was recovering from a recent heart attack back in Denver and Truex‘s then girlfriend Sherry Pollex was trackside after a year of major medical obstacles to help him celebrate.

2018 — Joey Logano Wins First Championship

After qualifying for the Championship 4 in the Round of 8 opening race at Martinsville Speedway, the 28-year old Logano headed to Homestead-Miami largely considered the "underdog" to 2018‘s "Big 3" — Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick. The threesome (Busch, 9, Harvick, 8 and Truex, 4) won 21 of the first 35 races in 2018. However, the Team Penske driver grabbed his opportunity and took it to the Big 3, winning the season finale by a sizable 1.7-seconds over Truex, Harvick and Busch and taking his career first NASCAR Cup Series championship trophy — Team Penske‘s second.

2019 — Kyle Busch grabs second title, fifth for JGR

After putting up four wins early in the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season, Kyle Busch went winless for 21 races. He pointed his way into the Championship 4 but when his back was against the wall he answered and won the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway passing Kevin Harvick in the closing laps and then holding off his hard charging Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. by 4.578-seconds to win his second championship of his career (2015, 2019).

With the feat, Busch became just the second active multiple champion joining Jimmie Johnson (seven titles) at the time. The title was also the fifth for Joe Gibbs Racing – Bobby Labonte (2000), Tony Stewart (2002 and 2005) and Kyle Busch (2015 and 2019).

2020 — Chase Elliott comes from the rear to win first title at Phoenix

After putting up just two wins during the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series regular season, Chase Elliott stepped up his game in the Playoffs winning at the Charlotte Road Course to advance to the Round of 8 and then winning the penultimate race at Martinsville Speedway to earn his spot in the Championship 4 Round. Elliott and the No. 9 team would head to Phoenix for the season finale only to lose their first starting position to multiple pre-race inspection failures. But the setback didn‘t hold Elliott down, instead it made him even more hungry for the title.

During the Championship race, he methodically worked his way through the field taking the lead for the first time in the event on Lap 79 of 312. Elliott would go on to hold off a hard charging Brad Keselowski to win the race by 2.740-seconds. With the feat, Elliott became seventh active champion at the time. The title was also a series leading 13th for Hendrick Motorsports.

2021 — Dirt Master Kyle Larson dominates Phoenix to win first Cup championship

Hendrick Motorsports‘ Kyle Larson was dominant all season long putting up five wins and winning the Regular Season Championship in 2021. The California native entered the Playoffs as the No. 1 seed with 52 Playoffs points. Larson would then proceed to tie Tony Stewart‘s Playoff record for the most wins in a single NASCAR Cup Series postseason run with five victories, including the season finale race at Phoenix Raceway.

Larson showed up to the Valley of the Sun as the odds favorite and he didn‘t disappoint. Larson won the pole and then led a race-high 107 laps en route to the win and his first NASCAR Cup Series title. With the feat, Larson became eighth active champion at the time (prior to Kurt Busch stepping away from fulltime racing). The title was also a series leading 14th for Hendrick Motorsports.

2022 — Joey Logano secures second Cup title with stout Phoenix win

Team Penske‘s Joey Logano earned his spot in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs‘ Championship 4 Round after winning the Round of 8 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

After two weeks of preparation for the Championship Race at Phoenix, crew chief Paul Wolfe and the No. 22 Ford team brought a rocket ship for Logano to race in the finale. Logano would win the pole for the event and lead 187 of the 312 laps en route to his victory and second career Cup Series title (2018, 2022). Logano became just the second active driver with multiple championships in the series joining Kyle Busch (2015, 2019).

2023 — Ryan Blaney wins first title at Phoenix

After putting up just one wins during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series regular season, Ryan Blaney smashed the gas pedal in the Playoffs winning at Talladega to advance to the Round of 8 and then winning the penultimate race at Martinsville Speedway to earn his spot in the Championship 4 Round.

With a wave of momentum behind their backs, Ryan Blaney and No. 12 Team Penske team showed up to Phoenix Raceway eager to win a championship. Blaney would qualify 15th for the Championship Race and the second generation driver raced his way up to a runner-up finish — the highest finishing driver of the Championship 4 — to earn his first NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Saying Goodbye: Stewart-Haas Racing‘s last race

Stewart-Haas Racing drivers will be making their final starts for the organization this weekend at Phoenix Raceway. The company has announced earlier this year it will be closing down at the conclusion of the 2024 season.

Since joining the NASCAR Cup Series in 2009, Stewart-Haas Racing has been a force to be reckoned with amongst its competitors.

Stewart-Haas Racing has fielded 20 different drivers since 2009, producing two NASCAR Cup Series Championships (Tony Stewart, 2011 and Kevin Harvick, 2014), 70 wins, 343 top fives, 707 top 10s and 62 poles.

All is not lost though, from the ashes of Stewart-Haas Racing will be the newly formed Haas Factory Team which plans to run two NASCAR Xfinity Series cars and a NASCAR Cup Series car in 2025.

Busch‘s consecutive year win streak is in jeopardy, one last chance this weekend

The longest streak of consecutive years with a win in the NASCAR Cup Series could be coming to a close this weekend at Phoenix Raceway if Richard Childress Racing‘s Kyle Busch doesn‘t pull off the victory. Busch currently is riding a wins streak that is 19 consecutive years — from 2005 — 2023.

Busch leads all active drivers in wins in the NASCAR Cup Series with 63 victories.

Busch has made 38 starts at Phoenix Raceway posting four poles, three wins, 12 top fives and 26 top 10s.

NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.

Michael Phelps named Honorary Pace Car Driver for NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race — Phoenix Raceway has announced that Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, will serve as the Honorary Pace Car Driver for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race on Sunday, Nov. 10.

"Michael Phelps is the prime standard for success and achievement across all of sports," said Phoenix Raceway President Latasha Causey. "We‘re incredibly grateful to have such an accomplished icon join us for the most important race of the season as we crown our next Cup Series champion at Phoenix Raceway."

Considered by many to be the greatest Olympian ever, the Baltimore, Md., native was a swimming prodigy who amassed a record 28 total Olympic medals and 23 gold medals during his career. At the age of 15, Phelps became the youngest man to compete for Team USA in the Olympics at the 2000 Games in Sydney. He dominated his next four Olympic Games, leaving each as the most decorated athlete that competed. Phelps took home six gold medals and two bronzes in Athens in 2004, and followed that tally with the greatest haul of medals in Olympic history at Beijing in 2008 winning gold in all eight events event he entered.

His final Olympic outings were equally impressive. Phelps won four golds and two silvers at London in 2012, and after previously announcing his retirement, came back for the 2016 games in Rio and garnered five golds and one silver to cap off his astounding career.

Phelps now enjoys retirement in Paradise Valley, Arizona. He also continues his work leading the Michael Phelps Foundation in its mission to provide families with the tools and support to be more confident and comfortable in the water and in life.

Whitney Cummings Named Honorary Starter for NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race— Phoenix Raceway has announced that comedian, actor, writer, producer, director, podcaster, and entrepreneur Whitney Cummings will be the Honorary Starter for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race on Sunday, Nov. 10.

"What‘s more exhilarating than watching a NASCAR race up close and personal? I am psyched to be the Honorary Starter for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race in Phoenix," said Whitney Cummings. "I find it endearing that they designed their checkered flag specifically to match my past."

"We‘re elated to have Whitney Cummings join us for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race," said Phoenix Raceway President Latasha Causey. "Her lively personality will surely help excite our sold-out crowd before we crown our 2024 champion."

The multi-talented entertainer has cemented herself as one of the most renowned comedic voices of the last two decades. She is best known for creating, producing, and starring in the NBC series “Whitney" while simultaneously serving as the co-creator and co-writer of the syndicated Emmy-nominated CBS comedy series, "2 Broke Girls". Cummings has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including "Workaholics," "Crashing," "Accused," and notable Comedy Central Roasts. In celebration of the 30^th anniversary of NBC‘s hit sitcom "Friends," Cummings will host a four-part game show on Max titled "Fast Friends." She has also released six stand-up specials, including her latest, "Mouthy," in November 2023.

Additionally, Cummings is the host, executive producer, and creator of the hit podcast, "Good for You," which features conversations with friends, fellow comedians, and experts in various fields. In 2017, she published her memoir, "I‘m Fine … And Other Lies," a humorous and candid collection of stories too embarrassing to share on stage. The same year, Cummings made her directorial debut with the feature adaptation of Louann Brizendine‘s bestseller, "The Female Brain," which she co-wrote alongside Neil Brennan.

Sunoco Rookie of the Year Update — Spire Motorsport‘s Carson Hocevar has mathematically clinched the 2024 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors but will not be officially awarded until he finishes the season in good standing, per the program guidelines and eligibility.

This season, Hocevar, working with crew chief Luke Lambert, has made 35 starts collecting one top five and six top 10s. His average starting position in 2024 is 20.2 and his average finish is 18.3. He has led 16 laps and has won 14 Sunoco Rookie of the Race Awards.

Cup Manufacturers Championship — Chevrolet has clinched the NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturers Championship this season. The manufacturer mathematically clinched the title following the race at Martinsville Speedway. Chevrolet currently has 15 wins on the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Nine different manufacturers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturers Championship. This is Chevrolet‘s series leading 43rd NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturers Championship.

Crew Member Spotlight: Phoenix Raceway — This weekend at Phoenix Raceway we wanted to highlight several of the team‘s crew members that are from the surrounding areas of the track in Arizona.

NASCAR Cup Series milestones to watch for this season — Below is a look at some of the anticipated NASCAR Cup Series milestones to watch for this season.

Driver Starts (300 or more)

Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in career starts with 713 starts, followed by Martin Truex Jr. (692), Denny Hamlin (685), Joey Logano (578), Brad Keselowski (556), Michael McDowell (500), A.J. Allmendinger (447), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (435), Austin Dillon (407), Kyle Larson (365), Ryan Blaney (341), Chris Buescher (328), Alex Bowman (324) and Chase Elliott (321).

Driver Wins (10 or more)

Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in career wins with 63 victories, followed by Denny Hamlin (54), Brad Keselowski (36), Joey Logano (35), Martin Truex Jr. (34), Kyle Larson (29), Chase Elliott (19), William Byron (13) and Ryan Blaney (13).

• Denny Hamlin currently has 54 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace for 11th on the all-time wins list with 55 victories each.
• Brad Keselowski currently has 36 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie Bobby Isaac for 23rd on the all-time wins list with 37 victories each.

Driver Poles (10 or more)

Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in career poles with 44 poles, followed by Kyle Busch (34), Joey Logano (31), Martin Truex Jr. (23), Kyle Larson (21), Brad Keselowski (18), William Byron (13), Christopher Bell (13), Chase Elliott (12), and Ryan Blaney (10).

• Denny Hamlin currently has 44 NASCAR Cup Series poles, if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Buck Baker for 12th on the all-time pole winners list with 45 poles each.
• Kyle Busch currently has 34 NASCAR Cup Series poles, if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett for 21st on the all-time pole winners list with 35 poles each.
• Joey Logano currently has 31 NASCAR Cup Series poles (tied with Kevin Harvick), if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famers Fireball Roberts and Fred Lorenzen for 24th on the all-time pole winners list with 32 poles each.

Active Organization Wins

Hendrick Motorsports leads all active NASCAR Cup Series organizations in wins with 312, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing (214), Team Penske (146), RFK Racing (143), Richard Childress Racing (117), Wood Brothers Racing (100), Stewart-Haas Racing (70), 23XI Racing (8), Trackhouse Racing (8), Front Row Motorsports (4), JTG Daugherty Racing (3), Kaulig Racing (2), Spire Motorsports (1).

Manufacturer Wins

In total 16 different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series, led by Chevrolet with 865 victories, and followed by Ford (734), Dodge (213), Toyota (189), Plymouth (189), Pontiac (154), Oldsmobile (96), Mercury (93), Buick (65), Hudson (58), Chrysler (54), American Motor Company (5), Lincoln (3), Studebaker (2), Jaguar (1) and Nash Motor Company (1).

— NASCAR —