All articles tagged with #championship race
Denny Hamlin plans to return to NASCAR in 2026 but needs time to process his recent championship race loss and his future in racing, despite having a contract through 2027. He expressed emotional distress after the race and indicated he might need a break before making any decisions.
Denny Hamlin expressed his shock and disappointment after narrowly missing out on the NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix Raceway, highlighting his team's strong effort, the unpredictable tire issues, and the emotional toll of the race's outcome.
The final race of the 2025 NASCAR season at Phoenix Raceway is predicted to be won by Christopher Bell, despite several top contenders like Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, and Kyle Larson. Bell, who has a strong record at Phoenix, is favored over other Championship 4 drivers, with Byron also expected to perform well. The race will determine the season's champions across all three national series.
The NASCAR Cup Series held qualifying at Phoenix Raceway for the 2025 championship race, with Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Kyle Larson, and William Byron competing for the title. Qualifying was based on a metric combining previous race results and owner points, with the race scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.
The NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway is underway, with Joey Logano winning the first stage and Ryan Blaney taking the second. The Championship 4 drivers—Blaney, Logano, William Byron, and Tyler Reddick—are competing for the title, with the highest finisher among them winning the championship. Christopher Bell, who was penalized in the previous race, is also a key contender in the race dynamics. The event is being broadcast on NBC, with streaming options available.
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race will take place at Phoenix Raceway, with Martin Truex Jr. starting on the pole in his final full-time race. The event marks the season finale and the last race for Stewart-Haas Racing. The race will be broadcast on NBC at 2 p.m. CT, with streaming available via the NBC Sports app and FUBO.
Martin Truex Jr. secured the Busch Light Pole Award for his final full-time race in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway, outpacing Joey Logano by .010 seconds. Truex, driving the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, aims for his first win of the season. Logano, a top championship contender, will start second despite losing pit selection due to inspection issues. Other championship contenders include William Byron starting eighth and Tyler Reddick tenth, while Ryan Blaney will start 17th after a qualifying mishap.
As the NBA regular season resumes, the Celtics are leading the championship race, but face stiff competition from teams like the Cavaliers, Bucks, and Suns. The MVP race is heating up, with Jokić, SGA, and Giannis leading the conversation. The playoff picture is tight in both the East and West, with several teams vying for positioning. Meanwhile, the bottom of the standings sees a fierce battle for the top draft picks, and LeBron James' future with the Lakers remains uncertain as he holds a player option for next season.
Ryan Blaney wins his first NASCAR Cup Series championship, beating out Kyle Larson and William Byron in a 312-lap shootout at Phoenix Raceway. Blaney finished second in the season finale, but his strong performance throughout the playoffs secured him the title. Ross Chastain won the race, becoming the first non-Championship 4 driver to win the season finale since the playoff format was introduced in 2014. Team Penske owner Roger Penske, who recently battled shingles, was present to celebrate Blaney's victory.
Tony Stewart praises the respectful racing displayed by the Xfinity Series championship contenders, Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek, Justin Allgaier, and Sam Mayer, during the season finale at Phoenix. Stewart highlights the importance of setting a positive example for younger drivers and emphasizes that racing can be intense and competitive without resorting to wrecking each other. Cole Custer ultimately won the race and the championship title, with Allgaier finishing third and Mayer finishing fifth. The drivers expressed mutual respect and enjoyment of the clean battles on the track, in contrast to the more contentious Truck Series race the previous day.
Corey Heim criticizes fellow driver Carson Hocevar for causing a late incident in the Craftsman Truck series championship race at Phoenix Raceway, which ultimately cost Heim a chance at the title. Heim accuses Hocevar of having a history of wrecking others and not learning from his mistakes. Hocevar admits his fault and expresses remorse, acknowledging his reputation for causing wrecks. Both drivers believe the championship was stolen from them due to the incident.
Ryan Blaney secured his spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race by winning the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Blaney led 145 laps, won Stage 2, and finished ahead of Aric Almirola and Denny Hamlin. William Byron claimed the final spot based on points. Blaney and Byron will join Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell in the Championship Race in Phoenix.
Car owner Richard Childress criticized driver Sheldon Creed for making contact with teammate Austin Hill on the last lap of the Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway, causing both drivers to fail to advance to the championship race. Childress called Creed "stupid" and expressed his disappointment. Creed, who will be leaving the team after this season, thanked Childress for the opportunity and acknowledged his time to move on. Creed and Hill made contact on the final lap, with Creed ultimately finishing second and Hill failing to finish. Cole Custer secured the final transfer spot. Hill expressed frustration with Creed's actions and planned to talk to him about it.
NASCAR has rescinded the disqualification of Ryan Blaney's car following the Las Vegas race, enhancing his chances of reaching the championship race. The decision came after NASCAR discovered an issue with the damper template used for inspection and conducted a detailed investigation. Blaney's sixth-place finish and 39 points have been restored, moving him to seventh in the playoff standings. Team Penske expressed satisfaction with NASCAR's integrity throughout the process and looks forward to continuing their pursuit of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship. NASCAR will be implementing new procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs have been set with 16 drivers competing for the championship trophy. The playoffs consist of 10 races, with four drivers being eliminated after the third, sixth, and ninth races. Notably, 2020 champion Chase Elliott did not qualify for the playoffs. The playoff drivers have been re-seeded based on points earned, and the first four races will be televised on USA Network, while the final six will be on NBC. All 10 races can be live-streamed on the NBC Sports website and app. The championship race will take place at Phoenix Raceway on November 5th.