close
close

The fifth NASCAR title fight in Phoenix promises an epic battle of the best

Cole Cusumano
| Especially for the Republic

play

On Sunday, another racer will make his dream of becoming champion come true when the NASCAR Cup Series takes the checkered flag for the 2024 season and the title fight is decided for the fifth consecutive year at Phoenix Raceway. The championship race is scheduled for 1 p.m. on NBC, where four of the world's best stock car drivers will compete for 312 laps around the one-mile diamond in the desert for the honor of winning the Bill France Cup.

Team Penske has been perfect at the finale in Phoenix since the next-gen car was introduced two years ago and boasts back-to-back titles heading into the 2024 clash. “The Captain” Roger Penske has a good chance of continuing his dominance by securing a three-peat in NASCAR with two drivers vying for the championship.

Ryan Blaney is back to defend his title, following a nearly identical path he took to become the current champion. After a somewhat inconsistent regular season, the No. 12 team turned it on when it mattered most. Just like in 2023, the 30-year-old finished second two weeks ago and then recorded a walk-off win at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway – his third of the season – to punch his ticket to Championship 4.

Second place was good enough for Blaney to win his first title last year, but he may need to finish one place better if he wants to go back-to-back. With six straight top-five finishes in Phoenix, in addition to his recent winning streak, this could be the favorite's trophy to lose.

“It’s nice to fight and persevere and still make it to Phoenix,” Blaney said. “The playoffs weren't the smoothest for us, but we worked hard and really believed in each other. That's what I love about this group around me. They never really get embarrassed. They figure out where we need to get better (and) how we need to get better.

“I feel like we had our best performance ever and that as a team of 12 we did everything better than ever before.”

In 2022, Joey Logano surprised as champion, becoming only the second active driver at the top of the NASCAR standings with multiple titles. Similar to their last victorious campaign, the No. 22 team had the luxury of two weeks to prepare for the big race after a win in the first event of the semifinal round.

As was the case two years ago, Logano is considered by many to be an “outpost” due to his season numbers. However, there is a reason why he is one of only two active drivers with multiple championships and has a chance to become the only competitor with three titles. He and the No. 22 team have made a career out of proving doubters wrong and taking advantage of the opportunities presented to them.

“I just think our team does a really good job of taking advantage of opportunities when they arise,” Logano said. “These big moments are popping up, it seems like the 22 are popping up. What that is is difficult to say. You can't really train for that. Some of it is experience, some of it is just pure motivation, some of it is the fear of losing that drives you.

“That’s all you can ask of a racing team or any sports team. There are a lot of sports teams that don't have the best regular season, then they show up in the playoffs and you're like, “Wow, where did that come from?” That happens to be 22. I'd much rather have it that way than anywhere else. “

The only other team to capture the championship in Phoenix was the winningest organization in NASCAR history, Hendrick Motorsports, albeit in a different car. The series finale marks the conclusion of the prestigious stable's 40th anniversary season, with William Byron representing Chevrolet in its second consecutive Championship 4 appearance.

While no one has been able to outdo Team Penske in the next-gen era title race, Byron found the winning streak in Phoenix last March, also winning the pole and finishing fourth in the finale. As the last driver to make it to the final round, they may remain a bit under the radar, but there's a good chance the No. 24 team can bring Hendrick Motorsports its 15th championship in 2024.

“It feels great, but I’m not completely satisfied,” Byron said. “Every year the goal is to reach Championship 4. This is a successful season and I am so proud of our team for achieving this. Now we have the big goal in mind. I feel like we’re fully capable.”

NASCAR Championship Week in Phoenix: Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano headline the title fight

It's not often you hear the words “underdog” and “Michael Jordan” in the same breath, but that's how Tyler Reddick characterizes himself before the championship race. In just his second season with 23XI Racing, the #45 driver will be competing in Championship 4 for the first time with the team co-owned by Denny Hamlin and the greatest player in NBA history.

Throughout the postseason, the 28-year-old channeled his inner “Jumpman”: He battled a gastrointestinal ailment to win the regular-season title, recovered from an accident to make it to the semifinals, and overtook Blaney by two Weeks in the final round to secure a place in the last four. Although Toyota has yet to win a title at Phoenix, Christopher Bell won there in the spring and Reddick was tied for the most laps lead.

Could Jordan win his seventh championship – this time as a NASCAR team owner?

“It’s special, man,” Reddick said. “(Jordan) has spent a lot of time, effort and money getting 23XI to where it is now. He is fully committed to this team (and) our organization. To be able to reward him…it's a true honor.

“He believed in me. He believes in this team. He did a lot for it. It’s really cool to be able to perform in these critical moments for him and everyone else who is part of the team.”

Beyond battle

Two champions of the sport will try to play spoilsport and find a winning way for their respective arguments. Martin Truex Jr., driving the same livery with which he made his Cup debut in 2004, is looking to go to the top with a win in his final season as a full-time driver.

Three-time Phoenix winner Kyle Busch will look to add a fourth to his resume to extend his streak of at least one win to 20 seasons.

Glendale native and 2021 Daytona 500 champion Michael McDowell, who just made his 500th Cup start, will end his seven-year tenure with Front Row Motorsports once the checkered flag waves. In 2025, he will move to Spire Motorsports and drive the No. 77, switching from Ford to Chevy.

Seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson returns to Phoenix, where he will drive a fan-designed car that pays homage to the Valley of the Sun. The Toyota Camry sponsored by Carvana

You may also like...