Ryan Blaney, the reigning NASCAR champion, set the pace during the first practice session at Phoenix Raceway in Arizona. Blaney, driving a Ford for Team Penske, topped the leaderboard in the 50-minute practice session ahead of the championship race on Sunday. He is aiming to achieve back-to-back titles, a feat that has not been accomplished since Jimmie Johnson’s five consecutive championship wins from 2006 to 2010.
If Blaney or his teammate Joey Logano manages to clinch the title, it would mark a significant achievement for team owner Roger Penske, as it would be his third consecutive Cup title. Logano, who won the championship in 2022, is also vying for a third Cup title. Penske recently secured sports car championships in both IMSA and the World Endurance Championship, adding to his impressive resume.
Martin Truex Jr., despite being eliminated from the playoffs in the first round and announcing his retirement from full-time competition after Sunday’s race, showed strong performance by placing second in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Kyle Larson, who has claimed victory in six Cup Series races this season, came in third in a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. Larson was eliminated from the championship race last week in the final playoff qualifier.
William Byron, the Daytona 500 winner and one of the title contenders, secured the fourth spot in a Hendrick Chevy. Byron’s entry into the championship four was made possible after Christopher Bell’s disallowed move at Martinsville Speedway last Sunday. Tyler Reddick, the fourth and final driver in the championship race, had the slowest time among the contenders, finishing 21st in a Toyota for 23XI Racing. Reddick is making his first appearance in the winner-take-all finale, driving for Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, who are currently in a legal dispute with NASCAR over the charter agreement they and Front Row Motorsports declined to sign in September.
As the stage is set for an exciting championship showdown, Logano aims to secure his third Cup title, while Byron seeks to become a first-time Cup Series champion. The competition is fierce, with each driver giving their all to claim victory on the big stage at Phoenix Raceway. Fans can expect an action-packed race as the NASCAR Championship Weekend unfolds.
