The NASCAR Championship is finally among us, ladies and gentlemen. After an intense playoffs, and an explosive season, it comes down to four drivers. Three of them have won their way in with victories at Las Vegas, Homestead, and Martinsville. But they’re all on an even playing field here at Phoenix International Speedway.
Let’s go over the four drivers fighting for the most prestigious title in motorsports on this continent. What they did to get here, and how their odds look at capturing the Cup Series championship in the desert on Sunday!
#5 Kyle Larson
Embed from Getty ImagesKyle Larson is fighting for his second NASCAR Cup Series title, his first being just two years ago also occurring at Phoenix. Larson has been nothing short of as dominant as usual. Aside from a brutal hiccup at Homestead, he’s brought his momentum into the playoffs and for that has secured two wins. In the next-gen car, Larson at Phoenix has an average finish of 6.5 out of the two races he actually finished. As a former champ, he’s automatically a favorite, and probably the safe bet of the drivers that remain.
#12 Ryan Blaney
Embed from Getty ImagesIf you wanted an educated risk, it doesn’t get much better than Ryan Blaney. The #12 car has caught fire lately and overcame some of his past juju to win at Martinsville. Since winning at Talladega, his lowest finish is 12th at the Roval. Not to mention, Blaney has excelled at Phoenix in the next-gen car, with an average finish of 2.67. In the spring, he finished runner-up to William Byron. He’s a strong car here and is probably the second favorite behind Larson. If you’re a betting man and like odds, you’d have a half-decent shot at making some money with the #12 car.
#20 Christopher Bell
Embed from Getty ImagesI don’t want to sound dismissive of Bell, but he’s probably my least favorite car in the NASCAR Championship. I don’t want to take away from the strong season he had, and he more than earned his win at Homestead two weeks ago. But he’s outclassed in this group, and a lot of fans would agree that a better car missed out in the #11 of Denny Hamlin. Bell has an average finish of 14th at Phoenix in the next-gen car, and placed sixth in the spring. A solid outing, and he’s more than solid at this track, but he’s never been inside the top-five. That could change this weekend, but he’s not my favorite here in the desert.
#24 William Byron
Embed from Getty ImagesIt’s been a career year for William Byron. He tallied the most wins in the Cup Series this year with six. Including coming away from Phoenix in the spring with the checkered flag. Some of the wins he backed into (Atlanta in September comes to mind). But you don’t win six races by being a bum, and you certainly don’t make the championship four that way.
With that in mind, he didn’t win his way here. Being the lone driver to point into the NASCAR Championship. He placed P7, P4, and P13 in the round of eight. Without a doubt his weakest round of the playoff. But at Phoenix, he’s good. In the next-gen car, he’s got an average finish of 8.33. Winning in spring and bringing home P6 last November. He’s a fast car, and he’ll be in the mix until the end. It could be the year of the 24, so long as he can beat out his teammate and the rest of the Championship Four.
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