The NASCAR Cup Series Championship: A Race Like No Other at Phoenix Raceway

Get ready for an exhilarating showdown as the NASCAR Cup Series prepares to crown its 2023 champion this Sunday at the unique and challenging Phoenix Raceway. Four talented drivers – Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and defending series champion Kyle Larson – will battle it out on the dog-leg oval for the ultimate prize. While Bell, Blaney, and Larson secured their spots in the finale with impressive victories in the Round of 8, Byron, the winningest driver of the season with six victories, had to fight hard at Martinsville to secure his place among the championship contenders. But on Sunday, points won’t matter – it’s all about who crosses the finish line first.

Know the Starting Grid

Take a look at the starting grid for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race:

• William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota
• Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
• Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
• Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford
• Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota
• Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford
• Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford
• Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
• Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford
• Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
• Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford
• Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
• Carson Hocevar (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
• Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
• Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford
• Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford
• Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
• Ryan Newman (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford
• Cole Custer (6), RFK Racing Ford
• A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
• Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
• J.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford
• Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
• BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford

Don’t Miss the TV/Streaming Schedule

Make sure to tune in for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race. Here’s the TV/streaming schedule:

• Friday, 8-9 p.m.: Practice (USA, NBC Sports app)
• Saturday, 4:30-5:30 p.m.: Qualifying (USA, NBC Sports app)
• Sunday, 3-6:30 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series Championship (NBC, Peacock, NBC Sports app)

Important Details About the Race

Take note of these important details about the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race:

• Track: Phoenix Raceway | 1-mile, low-banked dog-leg oval in Avondale, Arizona
• Banking: Frontstretch dog-leg – 0-11 degrees | Turns 1-2 – 8-9 degrees | Backstretch – 3 degrees | Turns 3-4 – 10-11 degrees
• Race length: 312 laps
• Stage lengths: Stage 1 – 60 laps | Stage 2 – 125 laps | Stage 3 – 127 laps
• Last year’s winner: Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford

Top Contenders and Best Bets for Victory

The top contenders for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race are the four drivers with the best odds to win, according to BetMGM. In the past nine years, the champion has always emerged victorious in the finale, including Kyle Larson’s title-winning performance in 2021. Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, William Byron, secured his first victory of the season at Phoenix earlier this year and is definitely a strong contender. The best odds to win are:

• Kyle Larson +175
• Ryan Blaney +275
• William Byron +325
• Christopher Bell +450

If you’re looking for a long shot, Denny Hamlin (+2000) is worth considering. He has an impressive average finish at Phoenix, third-best among all drivers in the race. Another long shot with potential is Kyle Busch (+5000), who has an impressive average finish of 10.6 at Phoenix.

A Farewell to Kevin Harvick

Sunday’s race marks the end of an era as Kevin Harvick concludes his NASCAR Cup Series career. Harvick, who announced his retirement earlier this year, leaves behind a remarkable legacy. Over 23 seasons, he made 826 starts, achieved 443 top-10s, 251 top-5s, and an impressive 60 wins. Harvick has had great success at Phoenix throughout his career, with 30 top-10 finishes, including 20 top-5 finishes and nine victories. As he bids farewell, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Harvick add to his remarkable stats and leave a lasting impression on the sport.

Full Entry List for the Race

Here’s the full entry list for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race:

• Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
• Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford
• Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
• Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Cole Custer (6), RFK Racing Ford
• Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
• Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
• Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford
• Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• J.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford
• A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
• Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford
• Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford
• Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford
• Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota
• William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
• Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford
• Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford
• Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• Carson Hocevar (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
• Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
• Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
• Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Ryan Newman (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford
• Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
• BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford
• Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Weather Conditions for the Race

The weather forecast for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race predicts daytime high temperatures in the high 80s with minimal cloud cover. These conditions will test the skills of the drivers, especially the Championship 4, as the track will become slick and evolve throughout the day. Get ready for an exciting and unpredictable race!

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