Viewer’s guide, fast facts for Phoenix

CONCORD, N.C. – The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season has come to its climax. Two drivers from Hendrick Motorsports, Kyle Larson and William Byron, have emerged as championship contenders and will battle for the title at Phoenix Raceway this Sunday. This race holds significant importance for team owner Rick Hendrick, as it could mark the 15th premier series championship for his team.

Chad Knaus, vice president of competition at Hendrick Motorsports, expressed his excitement about having two cars vying for the championship. He called it an amazing testament to the team’s achievements this year. The finale has been held at Phoenix since 2020, and it is only the second track to host the championship event in the current playoff format.

From a design perspective, one unique aspect of the 1-mile circuit is “the dogleg,” which allows drivers to make bold moves into the first corner after the start-finish line. This feature adds an element of intensity to restarts, especially when drivers are fighting for their championship hopes.

Hendrick Motorsports has had great success at Phoenix, with 13 victories in 54 starts. Jimmie Johnson holds the team record with four wins, followed by Jeff Gordon with two. Byron, Larson, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chase Elliott, Terry Labonte, and Mark Martin each have one victory at the track. Notably, Elliott and Larson’s wins came in championship races.

In addition to the Cup Series championship race, Rajah Caruth will be competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Phoenix, driving the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. Caruth, a 21-year-old driver, has had a successful season in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and has made 18 Xfinity starts over the past two seasons. Former Cup Series crew chief Greg Ives will lead the operation in Arizona.

Larson, who is aiming for his second title in three seasons, and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com team are in a good position after their victory in the Round of 8 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Larson also won the opening race of the Round of 8 in his championship-winning season of 2021. With four victories and the All-Star Race win under his belt this season, Larson is looking to end the year on a high note. He has had one win, seven top-five finishes, and 11 top-10s in 18 starts at Phoenix.

Byron, with six victories in 2023, enters Phoenix with his first opportunity to win a championship. The team fought through the Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway to secure their spot in the Championship 4 based on points. Byron has had success at Phoenix, with six top-10 finishes in 11 starts, including a victory in the spring race. His average finish of 11.17 this season is the best among the Championship 4 drivers, and he will be aiming for his first Cup Series crown on Sunday.

Although Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team did not make it to the Championship 4, their performance in the playoffs was impressive. Since the playoffs began, Elliott has had an average running position of 12.49, which is the ninth-best in the field. Elliott won the Cup Series title at Phoenix in 2020 and has led the second-most laps at the track among all facilities on the schedule. With one win, five top-five finishes, and eight top-10s in 14 starts, Elliott will be looking to end the season on a high note.

Alex Bowman, who calls Arizona his home, will have a special connection to the race as he returns to his home state. In 2016, Bowman subbed for the injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. and led 194 laps at Phoenix, his highest number of laps led in a single race. While this race does not hold championship significance for the No. 48 Ally Racing team, they will aim to build momentum for the 2024 season with a strong performance at Phoenix.

For those looking to catch the action, practice for all entries will take place on Friday, Nov. 3, at 8:05 p.m. ET, with coverage on USA Network. Group qualifying will begin on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 4:35 p.m. ET, also on USA Network. The Cup Series race will go green on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 3 p.m. ET, with coverage on NBC. The Xfinity Series race will start on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. ET, with coverage on USA Network.

Fans can listen to the race on the MRN Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (channel 90). Online streaming is available through the NBC Sports App or Peacock. For live updates, follow @TeamHendrick on Twitter.

Here are some fast facts heading into the Phoenix race:
– Hendrick Motorsports won the opening race of each playoff round this season, with Larson taking the Round of 16 and Round of 8 openers, and Byron winning the first race in the Round of 12.
– Larson has recorded eight top-10 finishes in the last nine starts at Phoenix, including his championship victory in 2021.
– Byron has achieved 14 top-five finishes this season, tying him for first place in this category.
– Bowman led 194 laps at Phoenix in 2016, the most laps he has led in a single Cup Series race.
– Elliott has run the ninth-most laps inside the top-10 spots since the start of the playoffs, with a total of 1,285 laps.

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Olivia Carter

Olivia Carter revs up excitement in the world of NASCAR. As a dedicated motorsports enthusiast, she covers race results, driver profiles, and the latest developments in the NASCAR world, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.