Ryan Blaney secures first NASCAR Cup title as Ross Chastain wins at Phoenix: For the first time in 10 years of the elimination Playoff format, the NASCAR Cup Series champion failed to win the title race—not that it mattered one bit to 2023 champion Ryan Blaney. When he took the checkered flag in second place in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race, the driver of the No. 12 Ford gave Team Penske its second straight title in NASCAR’s premier series and gave Ford a sweep of Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway. [Read More](11-5-2023)

Ryan Blaney wins 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship; Ross Chastain wins Phoenix Race:
#1-Ross Chastain won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway. The win is his 2nd win of the year, 1st at Phoenix and 4th career win.
#12-Ryan Blaney finished 2nd followed by #5-Kyle Larson, pole winner #24-William Byron, #17-Chris Buescher, #19-Martin Truex, Jr., #4-Kevin Harvick, #11-Denny Hmalin, #34-Michael McDowell, and #23-Bubba Wallace.
Chastain led 157 laps on the day, including the final 31 and won the race by more than 1 second.
Ryan Blaney’s second place finish was the best of the Championship contenders. He passed Kyle Larson for 2nd place with 20 laps remaining and pulled away to finish 1.8 seconds ahead of Larson on track. William Byron finished 4th, 2 second behind Larson. The fourth championship contender #20-Christopher Bell blew a rotor on lap 109 and got into the outside wall.  He could not continue and finished 36th.
Stage 1 was won by #24-William Byron. Stage 2 was won by #17-Chris Buescher.
There were 18 lead changes among 8 drivers and 4 cautions for 27 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 108.827mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.

Where the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers finished at Phoenix:
#12-Ryan Blaney, 2nd
#5-Kyle Larson, 3rd
#24-William Byron, 4th
#20-Christopher Bell, 36th

NASCAR Cup Series Championship Fast Facts:
Driver Champion: Ryan Blaney
Team: No. 12 Team Penske Ford

• Ryan Blaney has won his first NASCAR Cup Series Championship (2023).
• Blaney is the 36th different driver all-time in the NASCAR Cup Series to win a championship.
• Blaney finished second in the NASCAR Cup Series season finale at Phoenix Raceway to claim the 2023 title.
• In 36 starts this season, Blaney has put up three wins, eight top fives and 18 top 10s.
• During the Playoffs this season, Blaney has produced two wins, four top fives, and six top 10s.
• Ryan Blaney from High Point, North Carolina, is the 11th NASCAR Cup Series champion from the state of North Carolina; Buck Baker (Charlotte) Dale Earnhardt (Kannapolis) Bobby Isaac (Catawba), Dale Jarrett (Hickory), Ned Jarrett (Newton), Lee Petty (Randleman), Richard Petty (Randleman), Herb Thomas (Olivia), Rex White (Taylorsville), Benny Parsons (Ellerbe).

Owner Champion: Roger Penske, Team Penske

• This is Team Penske’s fourth NASCAR Cup Series driver championship – Brad Keselowski, 2012; Joey Logano, 2018, 2022; Ryan Blaney, 2023 – sixth-most all-time in the series.
• This is Team Penske’s fourth NASCAR Cup Series owner championship – Brad Keselowski, 2012; Joey Logano, 2018, 2022; Ryan Blaney, 2023 – sixth-most all-time in the series.
• This is Team Penske’s 10th NASCAR national series owner championship (four Cup: 2012, 2018, 2022, 2023 and six Xfinity: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2021) – fourth-most all-time.
• Team Penske has led 10 different drivers to Victory Lane for a total of 139 NASCAR Cup Series wins – Mark Donahue, Bobby Allison, Rusty Wallace, Jeremy Mayfield, Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric.
• Team Penske started their NASCAR Cup Series program in 1972, making their series debut at Riverside International Raceway with driver Mark Donahue.

Crew Chief Champion: Jonathan Hassler

• Jonathan Hassler, from Greencastle, Indiana, has won his first NASCAR Cup Series championship (2023) with driver Ryan Blaney.
• Hassler is the 43rd different NASCAR Cup Series crew chief to win a championship in the series.
• Hassler has three career NASCAR Cup Series wins – all with driver Ryan Blaney.

Race Fast Facts – Phoenix:
Ross Chastain won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race, his fourth victory in 187 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his second victory and 14th top-10 finish in 2023.
This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in 11 races at Phoenix Raceway.
Ryan Blaney (P) (second) posted his 11th top-10 finish in 16 races at Phoenix Raceway. It is his 18th top-10 finish in 2023.
Kyle Larson (P) (third) posted his 12th top-10 finish in 19 races at Phoenix Raceway.
Ty Gibbs (21st) was the highest finishing rookie.
Ryan Blaney (P) has won the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
Ty Gibbs has won the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors.
Chevrolet has won the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer’s Championship.
(NASCAR)

Final 2023 Cup Series Playoff Standings:
#12-Ryan Blaney, 5035
#5-Kyle Larson, 5034
#24-William Byron, 5033
#20-Christopher Bell, 2001
See the Driver Points Standings and Owner Points Standings.

Paint Schemes

Cars to the rear: #6-Brad Keselowski (driver change)

Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway have been made.
#24-William Byron chose the first stall
#5-Kyle Larson picked the sixth stall
#20-Christopher Bell has the 33rd stall
#12-Ryan Blaney will be in the 38th stall.
Playoff drivers picked pits first, regardless of qualifying results.
See all pit choices on the Phoenix Pit Stall page.

#24-William Byron won the Busch pole for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway with speed of 132.597mph for his 4th pole of the year, 1st at Phoenix and 12th of his career.
 #19-Martin Truex, Jr. will start second followed by #4-Kevin Harvick, #5-Kyle Larson, #23-Bubba Wallace, #11-Denny Hamlin, #43-Erik Jones, #1-Ross Chastain, #17-Chris Buescher, and #45-Tyler Reddick.
Playoff drivers #20-Christopher Bell and #12-Ryan Blaney will start 13th and 15th, respectively.
See the complete qualifying results and the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race Starting Lineup.

Where the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers will start at Phoenix:
#24-William Byron, 1st
#5-Kyle Larson, 4th
#20-Christopher Bell, 13th
#12-Ryan Blaney, 15th

Phoenix Raceway – Qualifying Fast Facts:
William Byron (P) won the Busch Light Pole Award for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race with a lap of 27.15 seconds, 132.597 mph.
This is his 12th pole in 216 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his fourth pole and 23rd top-10 start in 2023.
This is his first pole in 12 races at Phoenix Raceway.
Martin Truex Jr. (second) posted his 17th top-10 start of 2023 and his 18th in 36 races at Phoenix Raceway.
Kevin Harvick (third) posted his 21st top-10 start at Phoenix Raceway. It is his 13th in 36 races this season.
Ty Gibbs (11th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR)

Qualifying Order

Practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway is complete:
#8-Kyle Busch 130.813
#23-Bubba Wallace 130.676
#12-Ryan Blaney, 130.425
#20-Christopher Bell, 130.378
#1-Ross Chastain 130.378
Other playoff drivers:
#24-William Byron,130.010, 7th
#5-Kyle Larson, 129.846, 11th
Slowest: #51-Ryan Newman 127.001
Most laps run: #23-Bubba Wallace, 69 laps
Best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 33 drivers): #20-Christopher Bell 129.600
Notes: #16-A.J. Allmendinger spun after making slight contact with #8-Busch. They both suffered only minor damage.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run, and more on the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race Practice speeds page.

Crew Rosters

The entry list for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway is posted, 36 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-J.J. Yeley, #42-Carson Hocevar, #51-Ryan Newman, #78-B.J. McLeod.
See the full entry list on the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race Entry List page.

Phoenix Raceway Stats & Tidbits:
Season Race #: 36 of 36 (11-05-23)
Track Size: 1-mile
The Purse: $11,143,232
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 9 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 11 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 3 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees
Race Length: 312 laps / 500 Kilometers / 312 Miles
Stage 1 Length: 60 laps
Stage 2 Length: 125 laps
Final Stage Length: 127 laps

Goodyear Fast Facts — Phoenix Raceway

TandemDraft Stats – Phoenix Cup

Weekend Event Schedule