A year ago, Ryan Blaney made a dramatic statement in the NASCAR Cup Series by clinching his first career championship. After winning the penultimate race at Martinsville, Blaney surged into the title race and eventually came out on top, finishing ahead of his three competitors.
This past Sunday, Blaney found himself in a similar situation: needing a win at Martinsville to lock in a spot for the championship race. Amidst the controversy surrounding his victory, Blaney’s Martinsville win solidified his position as a contender once again. Without that victory, Blaney would have been racing for nothing more than pride.
Blaney’s recent success makes him the favorite heading into Sunday’s Cup Series finale. Not only is he favored to win the title, but he’s also the top pick to win the final race itself—a feat he fell short of achieving last season.
Breaking Down the Four Title Contenders at Phoenix
Let’s take a closer look at how the four championship contenders have performed at Phoenix and what their odds are heading into the final race of the season.
Ryan Blaney (+175 to win the Cup Series title)
8 top fives, 12 top 10s in 17 starts
Average finish: 10.9
Blaney made history by becoming the first driver to win the Cup Series title without winning the title race since the new format was introduced in 2014. He finished second in that race, behind Ross Chastain, who won the title race. Blaney has been impressive at Phoenix, with only Denny Hamlin boasting a better average finish among active drivers. Blaney’s consistency in recent fall races at Phoenix—finishing in the top five in each of the last five November races—makes him a strong contender.
William Byron (+275)
1 win, 2 top fives, 7 top 10s in 13 starts
Average finish: 11.8
Byron has been solid at Phoenix, although not quite on Blaney’s level. He led 95 laps last season, finishing fourth after starting from pole and winning the spring race. This marks his second consecutive appearance in the Championship Four, after finishing third in last season’s title race. He’ll be aiming to improve on that result and challenge for the Cup this time around.
Joey Logano (+325)
3 wins, 8 top fives, 16 top 10s in 31 starts
Average finish: 13.5
Logano’s success in even-numbered years has made him a title contender once again. He’s been part of the Championship Four six times in 11 seasons, and his Cup Series titles came in 2018 and 2022. Two years ago, Logano dominated at Phoenix, leading 187 laps en route to a win. His record at Phoenix, particularly in the fall races, keeps him in the mix for a potential title this season.
Tyler Reddick (+325)
2 top fives, 3 top 10s in 9 starts
Average finish: 17.9
Reddick’s path to the championship won’t be easy. He’s shown flashes of brilliance at Phoenix, earning two third-place finishes in the spring races of 2022 and 2023, but has struggled in the season finales. His best finish at Phoenix in the fall race is a 17th-place finish, which means he’ll need to step up his performance in the final race of the year. With a solid starting position, Reddick could challenge for his first Cup Series title.
Xfinity Series Championship Contenders
The Xfinity Series title race is shaping up to be a thrilling one, with a strong group of contenders fighting for the crown. Austin Hill, AJ Allmendinger, Cole Custer, and Justin Allgaier have each had strong seasons. Custer, the defending champion, boasts the best average finish at Phoenix (7.6), making him the favorite heading into the race.
Truck Series Championship Contenders
In the Truck Series, Grant Enfinger, Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski, and Corey Heim are the top contenders. After the chaos that plagued last year’s Truck Series finale, with Heim and Hocevar involved in a controversial incident, this year’s race looks set to be a more straightforward battle. Heim, who was leading among the title contenders when he was taken out last season, is considered the favorite heading into the race.