Showdown in the Desert: NASCAR’s Championship Hits Phoenix Raceway

NASCAR season’s grand finale rolls into our hometown of Phoenix this weekend, bringing the sport’s four best drivers to the desert for one last showdown.

When the green flag waves at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 2, NASCAR’s biggest stars will battle for one last victory and the sport’s premier prize: the Cup Series Championship. The field is set, the pressure’s set to max, and the desert’s mile-long track, with its infamous dogleg and wild restart zone, promise an exciting finale to the NASCAR season.

As Phoenix’s own Pristine Auction gears up for race weekend with a special auction lineup and an on-site presence at the track, fans can look forward to more than the drama of championship racing.

Racers Kyle Larson, William Byron, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Briscoe make up this year’s Championship 4. But with 30-plus other racers in the field, every lap will matter. So, whether a finalist clinches it all or a spoiler steals a portion of the race-day spotlight, the stage is set for an unforgettable showdown in the desert.

Let’s take a look at this year’s Championship 4, which represents two of NASCAR’s top racing teams.

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

Chase Briscoe may not have decades of Championship 4 experience, but this season he’s made his mark. In 2025, his first year driving the No. 19 for Joe Gibbs Racing, he’s logged three wins, 19 top-10s, and an average finish around 12.5.

This success comes after years of climbing toward this moment. He won the 2016 ARCA Racing Series title, stood out in both the Trucks and Xfinity ranks, and earned his first Cup win at Phoenix back in 2022. 

What makes Briscoe compelling heading into Phoenix is the momentum that carried him here. He swept wins at marquee events like Darlington’s Southern 500 and tallied poles through the summer. At the same time, the “first-time finalist” tag certainly makes him hungry to compete, but it also comes with the added pressure of delivering when it matters most.

His JGR team will need flawless pit stops, and the track’s quirks at Phoenix (i.e., constant rhythm, tire wear, restarts) will test how well his momentum carries. If he nails the short-oval dynamics and stays clean in traffic, Briscoe has a real shot.

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)

William Byron’s rise to NASCAR’s elite has been steady, methodical, and quietly fierce — sort of the way he approaches each race. Now in his 17th full Cup Series season, Byron returns to the Championship 4 for the second straight year, once again representing Hendrick Motorsports in the No. 24 Chevrolet.

After coming up just short in 2024, he carried his disappointment toward a breakout 2025 campaign that included multiple victories, one of the best average finishes in the field, and consistent top-five performances that have kept him in the title conversation all year.

What sets Byron apart from other races and consistent execution. He’s known for his precision and calm under pressure, qualities that could pay off big at Phoenix Raceway, where track position and tire management decide everything.

His main storyline: Can Byron finally convert consistency into a championship, especially with teammate Kyle Larson also in the mix? The Hendrick lineup has dominated all season, but with team pride and the title on the line, the tension between its two stars could make Phoenix even more dramatic.

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

Few storylines carry more emotional weight heading into Phoenix than Denny Hamlin’s.

The 43-year-old veteran has done just about everything there is to do in NASCAR except win a Cup championship. He’s racked up more than 50 career victories, three Daytona 500 wins, and countless playoff appearances, but he’s never been able to capitalize on a title bid.

This year marks yet another chance, and perhaps it’s his best yet after a solid 2025 season with Joe Gibbs Racing and his familiar No. 11 Toyota.

Hamlin has been fast nearly everywhere, especially on flat tracks like Phoenix, where his smooth throttle control and experience with tire falloff give him a tactical edge. But his biggest challenge may be the weight of expectation — both from fans and himself.

With teammate Chase Briscoe also in the Championship 4, strategy and cooperation within JGR will matter. Still, Hamlin’s blend of patience, playoff savvy, and determination make him a threat to finally erase the “best to never win a title” label.

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)

Few drivers in NASCAR blend raw talent and fearlessness like Kyle Larson. The 2021 Cup Series champion has proven he can win anywhere, from dirt tracks to superspeedways, and his return to the Championship 4 this year marks yet another reminder of his versatility and staying power.

Driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, Larson’s 2025 season has been streaky but dangerous. When he’s on, no one in the field can match his pace or precision on long green-flag runs.

Phoenix, though, has always been a mixed bag for him. While he won there to clinch his 2021 title, the track’s tricky restarts and tire strategy can punish even the sharpest driver. Add to that the internal rivalry with teammate William Byron, and Larson’s greatest challenge may be managing aggression versus control.

Still, Larson’s fearlessness on corner entry and his crew’s knack for late-race adjustments could be the formula for another championship moment in the desert.

The Wildcards Who Could Steal the Show

Since NASCAR adopted its current playoff format in 2014, it’s rare for a driver outside the Championship 4 to win the finale. But it has happened.

In 2023, Ross Chastain won the season’s final race while Ryan Blaney, who finished second, won the season’s championship. This marked the first time in a decade that the race’s winner wasn’t also the eventual champion.

This doesn’t mean the rest of the field won’t matter this year. With more than 30 other drivers on the track, any one of them could shape how the championship is decided whether by battling for position, triggering a late caution, or simply running a pace that forces contenders into mistakes.

Among the potential spoilers, Blaney stands out. The defending champion from 2024 has been strong on short, flat ovals and always runs well at Phoenix. Tyler Reddick has shown speed on nearly every track type, and if tire strategy comes into play, his aggressive lines could make him a factor.

Joey Logano, a two-time champion, thrives in pressure cookers like this and has been known to play disruptor when the stakes are high. And don’t overlook Christopher Bell, who often finds speed late in the season and has excelled at similar setups.

While the spotlight is firmly on the Championship 4, NASCAR’s beauty lies in its unpredictability. While fans are likely to focus most of their attention on the Championship 4, Phoenix’s chaotic restarts and high-risk layout make it the perfect place for chaos to ensue.

One More Race, One Last Shot — and a Piece of History

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway isn’t just the end of another season — it’s the culmination of every turn, every pit stop, and every risk that defined the year.
For Kyle Larson, William Byron, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Briscoe, this is legacy territory — a chance to etch their names alongside NASCAR’s greatest champions on one of the sport’s trickiest one-mile tracks.

But even after the checkered flag falls, NASCAR’s spirit doesn’t fade. Fans can carry that passion home by owning a piece of racing history.

At Pristine Auction, you’ll find authentic signed NASCAR memorabilia from your favorite drivers — helmets, diecasts, race-used gear, and more. Whether you’re rooting for Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, or just love the roar of the engines, Pristine Auction lets you celebrate championship season with collectibles that bring NASCAR’s biggest moments to life.