It’s all down to a final four.
After nine playoff races – including three elimination races – Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick have come through a 16-driver playoff field to reach the NASCAR Championship Race.
These four drivers, representing three different race teams and three different manufacturers, will each seek to have the best finish in the final race of the season and be crowned the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series champion.
The NASCAR Championship Race will be held Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, with a start time around 3 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local). NBC will broadcast the race.
While each of the final four aims to win Sunday’s race, taking the checkered flag isn’t necessary to win the championship. The goal is simply to beat the other three contenders, while navigating a full field of drivers who will also be trying to win the season’s final race.
But before we get to the race, get to know the four championship contenders:
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Ryan Blaney
Born: Dec. 31, 1993. Age: 30.
Car: No. 12 Ford. Team: Team Penske
Blaney’s odds to win from BetMGM
(Through Thursday evening)
Race: +310
Championship: +175
2024 NASCAR Cup Series stats
Wins: 3
Top 5 finishes: 11
Top 10 finishes: 17
Career NASCAR Cup Series stats
First race: May 10, 2014
Full-time seasons: 9
Wins: 13
Top 5 finishes: 80
Top 10 finishes: 148
Results at Phoenix Raceway
Races: 17
Wins: 0
Top 5 finishes: 8
Top 10 finishes: 12
Championships: 1
Blaney made the Championship 4 for the first time in 2023 and finished second in the season finale at Phoenix behind race winner Ross Chastain, who had already been eliminated from title contention.
Blaney bested Kyle Larson, William Byron and Christopher Bell to win his first Cup Series championship.
William Byron
Born: Nov. 29, 1997. Age: 26.
Car: No. 24 Chevrolet. Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Byron’s odds to win from BetMGM
(Through Thursday evening)
Race: +475
Championship: +275
2024 NASCAR Cup Series stats
Wins: 3
Top 5 finishes: 12
Top 10 finishes: 20
Career NASCAR Cup Series stats
First race: Feb. 18, 2018
Full-time seasons: 7
Wins: 13
Top 5 finishes: 53
Top 10 finishes: 103
Results at Phoenix Raceway
Races: 13
Wins: 1
Top 5 finishes: 2
Top 10 finishes: 7
Championships: 0
Byron made the NASCAR Championship Race for the first time in 2023 and finished fourth behind race winner Ross Chastain, who was no longer a playoff driver; 2023 series champion Ryan Blaney, who finished second in the race to win the season title; and 2021 series champion Kyle Larson, who finished third in the race.
Byron ended the 2023 season ranked third in the final standings behind Blaney and Larson.
Joey Logano
Born: May 24, 1990. Age: 34.
Car: No. 22 Ford. Team: Team Penske
Logano’s odds to win from BetMGM
(Through Thursday evening)
Race: +600
Championship: +325
2024 NASCAR Cup Series stats
Wins: 3
Top 5 finishes: 6
Top 10 finishes: 12
Career NASCAR Cup Series stats
First race: Sept. 14, 2008
Full-time seasons: 16
Wins: 35
Top 5 finishes: 166
Top 10 finishes: 286
Results at Phoenix Raceway
Races: 31
Wins: 3
Top 5 finishes: 8
Top 10 finishes: 16
Championships: 2
Logano won NASCAR Cup Series championships in 2018 and 2022.
In 2018 he won the NASCAR Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, besting the other three championship contenders: Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch. In 2022, Logano won the Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway, outdueling Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott.
Tyler Reddick
Born: Jan. 11, 1996. Age: 28.
Car: No. 45 Toyota. Team: 23XI Racing
Reddick’s odds to win from BetMGM
(Through Thursday evening)
Race: +700
Championship: +325
2024 NASCAR Cup Series stats
Wins: 3
Top 5 finishes: 12
Top 10 finishes: 20
Career NASCAR Cup Series stats
First race: Feb. 17, 2019
Full-time seasons: 5
Wins: 8
Top 5 finishes: 38
Top 10 finishes: 77
Results at Phoenix Raceway
Races: 9
Wins: 0
Top 5 finishes: 2
Top 10 finishes: 3
Championships: 0
Reddick won the regular-season points battle this season and now has made the Championship 4 for the first time. In addition to trying to win his first Cup title as a driver, Reddick is hoping to capture a first championship for 23XI Racing, which is co-owned by Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin.
Reddick ended last season ranked sixth in the final standings, the best finish of his Cup career.
