Written by Gabriel Tsui, Ashleigh McGregor, & Sean McKean
It all comes down to this: four drivers, one race, one title for grabs. The Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series conclude their seasons this weekend in Phoenix with both champions being crowned with the chequered flag of each event.
Phoenix Raceway opened up in 1964 but didn’t host NASCAR competition until 1995 as part of the Truck Series’ inaugural season. Cup and Xfinity joined the mix in 2005, and this race consistently remained the penultimate round for the season until 2020 – when this track started playing host to the finale.
This track is unique in design: the start-finish line is only at the one-quarter point of the back straight, which then opens up into a dog-leg. With how wide the section is plus track limits being of no concern this weekend, expect many intense moments.
Given what’s at stake, there’s been some highly memorable moments since 2020 – including Daniel Hemric’s first Xfinity title and win with a bump-and-run in 2021, the chaotic Trucks finale of 2023, and Cole Custer’s four-wide overtime pass in 2023.
Defending winners of each race:
Trucks: No. 19 - Christian Eckes
Xfinity: No. 00 - Cole Custer
Cup: No. 1 - Ross Chastain
Defending champions for each series:
Trucks: No. 99 - Ben Rhodes (will not defend title)
Xfinity: No. 00 - Cole Custer
Cup: No. 12 - Ryan Blaney
Below is the start time for each race plus lap count:
Trucks: Friday, 8 November, 18:00 local (01:00 UK) – 150 laps
Xfinity: Saturday, 9 November, 17:30 local (00:30 UK) – 200 laps
Cup: Sunday, 10 November, 13:00 local (20:00 UK) – 312 laps
NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race Preview
Written by Gabriel Tsui
35 weeks of racing all lead up to this. One final race to the finish line for the ultimate prize that every one of these drivers have dreamt of since the dawn of their career. Who will crumble under the immense pressure and spotlight this race carries? Who will be able to step up to the challenge and rise above all else?
The drivers will be driving 312 laps around the mile long track, with 75 laps in the first stage, 115 laps in the second stage, and 122 laps in the final stage, totalling a distance of 312 miles (502.12 kilometres) run around the track.
The weather report indicates that there will be no rain for the entirety of the race weekend, with temperatures ranging 22 to 26 degrees Celsius (72-79 degrees Fahrenheit). The race will commence on the Sunday of November 11th, at 15:00 ET (12:00 PT, 21:00 CET).
Race Predictions
In recent years, this is one of the most unpredictable and volatile championship race ever. Every driver presents a strong case to be the champion this year, and every driver also has one reason or another that could hold them back from winning.
Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano have done this before, but they are certainly having an up and down season, and their inconsistency could ruin their ability to return to the top step. William Byron has won at this track before, and is one of the most consistent driver in the field, with 20 top-ten finishes and only 4 DNFs.
Tyler Reddick is the regular season champion, and is carrying a lot of momentum heading into the final race of the season. However, he is the most inexperienced of the four as this is his first ever championship appearance.
My pick is difficult, but I predict that Logano will win his third championship. Though Logano has been having a season on the poorer side when compared to his other seasons, he just has championship DNA. Indeed, “championship DNA” is vague and hard to grasp, but the two championships under his belt speaks for him.
Besides, it’s an even year. Dread it, run from it, even-year Joey Logano arrives all the same.
Four storylines to look out for
Can the #45 pit crew perform under high pressure?
The 45 pit crew isn’t necessarily the best pit crew in the field, with their four-tyres-and-fuel pit time being the 18th among all pit crews according to NASCAR. They have delivered proper performances when they needed to, but can they do it again? Or will Reddick have to lean on his driving to carry the team to the top?
Will the #22 hold off on the risky calls?
The #22 is no stranger to risky calls. This has more often than not, paid off for the team when in high stakes environments, most notably stretching a tank of fuel for 110 laps in quintuple overtime, and that decision paid off massively. Most gambling people lose big before they ever win. Will the #22 team recognize when they reach their limits, and have the patience to play within it?
Can the #12 continue the clutch magic?
When the #12 had their back against their wall, they were able to pull off yet another amazing comeback in Martinsville and secure a shot to the title. Now, the only true question for the #12 team is what can stop them? The field has thrown everything and the kitchen sink at Blaney, but he made it all the way back to defend his championship. Can anyone stop this team from winning for the second season in a row?
Does the #24 still have one more in their tank?
William Byron has been uber-consistent throughout the playoffs, but they just seem to be unable to string together a race win, and they have had a win drought since the early season race in Martinsville. They have one of the crew chief-driver pairing, and one of the best pit crews, while also having previous experience in the championship, so winning is very much possible. The only question is, can Byron hang on with the immense pressure as Hendricks' last hope?
NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race Preview
Written by Ashleigh McGregor
Four drivers, one championship trophy, 200 laps- The NASCAR Xfinity series championship commences Saturday November 9th in Arizona. After 33 races this season and battling through the Round of 12 and Round of 8, there can be only one driver on the top step. Each driver will be driving their hearts out to ensure victory is theirs.
Martinsville Speedway’s Round of 8 saw the exit of Chandler Smith, Jesse Love, Sam Mayer, and Sammy Smith. With the elimination of Chandler Smith came the last place finish for Toyota in the manufacturers championship.
Championship 4 driver breakdown:
Your 2024 Championship Four drivers are Austin Hill, AJ Allmendinger, Cole Custer, and Justin Allgaier.
Austin Hill
After many knockouts over the years in the round of eight, Austin Hill makes his debut for the first time in the Championship Four. With four wins this season and eleven top five finishes, Hill has certainly earned his position. Finally making it to the final four is a victory in itself for Hill but can he take it all the way at the Phoenix Raceway?
AJ Allmendinger
Allmendinger clinched one victory this season at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He’s secured seven top five and seventeen top ten finishes this year. Car No. 16 has notably not performed well this season at circuits similar to Phoenix Raceway. This poses the greatest risk to Allmendinger putting up a fight for the championship.
Cole Custer
Cole Custer is the driver with the most to lose as he fights for the chance to claim back to back titles. Custer is this year's regular season champion and last year's playoff champion. He won two races this season, fourteen top fives, and twenty-two top ten finishes.
Justin Allgaier
Justin Allgaier is certainly the driver to watch during this championship race. He will be driving with redemption after his unfortunate second place finish last year in the championship. Allgaier has always been strong at the Phoenix Raceway and the car equally performs well with the track. He won two races this season and claimed nine top fives and nineteen top tens. With the most DNF’s out of the final four this season, Allagier and the team will need to keep their heads down and fully prepare for this spectacular race.
Track Insights
The drivers will be covering a distance of 200 miles over 200 laps. The weather for the weekend looks to be sunny and warm with a high of 74°F on race day.
The championship battle kicks off with practice on November 8th at 5:05pm ET. Qualifying takes place Saturday afternoon November 9th at 4:00pm ET. Later that day at 7:00pm ET the final race begins.
Who do you think will walk away with the 2024 Xfinity Series Championship trophy?
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Race Preview
Written by Sean McKean
Four dominant forces all go for the highest honour this weekend in Phoenix for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Finale: Corey Heim, Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski and Grant Enfinger.
Last year, Heim looked destined to take his first Trucks title before a run-in with Carson Hocevar curtailed his hopes. That collision led to a sequence of multiple overtime restarts and every remaining Championship 4 driver getting into a crash of their own. Through the chaos, Ben Rhodes snuck through to finish fifth on track but take his second Truck title in three years.
This year, though, he will not defend that title after an early elimination in the Round of 10. Who are the four that remain?
A second shot
For TRICON Racing’s Corey Heim, he will be going into this race almost certainly as a favourite. He recently extended his contract for one more year with the TRICON outfit, and it’s easy to see why: six wins and only five finishes outside of the top ten.
With the pace he’s shown this year, he will have certainly earned the title if won. However, he will have to avoid trouble if he wants to avoid a repeat of last year’s disaster finale.
Target on his back?
Christian Eckes goes into this race with momentum on his side, having won the Round of 8 finale in Martinsville and maintaining a 5.5 average finish. However, that win for Eckes didn’t come without controversy, as he had to punt fellow playoff-hopeful Taylor Gray to take victory.
With Eckes looking so quick and Gray saying that he “won’t make it easy” for him, could we see a hindrance for the McAnally-Hilgemann Racing group?
Sneakily fast
Ty Majeski may not always make the headlines, but when he does, it’s usually for a dominant victory at a flat, shorter oval. Furthermore, Phoenix in nature is also a flat, shorter oval – a track style where Majeski won two races at IRP and Richmond. With odds in his favour, could Majeski seal the deal?
Getting hot at the right time
For most of the season, Grant Enfinger usually ran towards the back-end of the top ten. However, he came alive in the Round of 8 – winning two races in Talladega and Homestead. With he and his CR7 squad being given two extra weeks to prepare for this race, could we see the veteran Enfinger clinch his first Truck title?
Race Predictions
To be truthful, one could make the case for all four of these drivers and why they’re the favourites to win. But, given his insane consistency this season and previous prowess at this track, I predict that Christian Eckes will take his second win at Phoenix and his maiden Truck title – a proper sendoff as he moves up to the Xfinity Series with Kaulig in 2025.
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