AVONDALE, Ariz. — During the annual State of the Sport address, NASCAR President Steve Phelps defended the four drivers who will compete for the Cup Series championship this weekend, despite criticism regarding their statistics relative to other drivers who did not make it to the final race. The championship contenders include reigning champion Ryan Blaney, his Team Penske teammate Joey Logano, Daytona 500 victor William Byron from Hendrick Motorsports, and Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing, the regular-season champion. These four will vie for the title in a high-stakes race at Phoenix Raceway this Sunday in what is a winner-take-all finale.
Phelps acknowledged the dissatisfaction among fans about the playoffs, which resulted in the exclusion of drivers with stronger credentials, such as Kyle Larson, who topped the series with six wins this season, and Christopher Bell, who was disqualified for a safety infraction during last week’s race at Martinsville Speedway. This ruling allowed Byron to qualify for the final based on points after Blaney, Logano, and Reddick secured their places by winning races earlier in the playoffs. Notably, both Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin were also eliminated before reaching this critical stage.
“There’s been significant discussion regarding the four drivers set to compete on Sunday, with some suggesting they are undeserving or that the wrong drivers were selected,” Phelps stated. “All of our drivers understood the format. It’s clear that all four of these drivers have earned their spots here, no questions asked.”
Logano, initially eliminated in the second round of playoffs, made a comeback following a post-race inspection that disqualified Alex Bowman, allowing him once again to vie for the title. He aims to be the first active driver to claim a third championship in NASCAR’s top series. Fellow contender Blaney, alongside Logano, will strive to secure a third consecutive Cup title for team owner Roger Penske and the Ford brand. Meanwhile, Reddick managed to clinch a spot in the finals even after an inconsistent playoff performance, thanks to a last-lap victory at Homestead-Miami, marking a historic achievement for the team co-owned by basketball icon Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin.
Byron secured his place in the finale following the disqualification of Bell, who had been impressive throughout the playoffs until his controversial maneuver.
In a separate development, NASCAR has taken strong action this week by levying $600,000 in fines and suspending nine team members from three organizations due to race manipulation during last weekend’s events at Martinsville. Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell described the infractions as unacceptable and noted the penalties addressed incidents of interference among teams, emphasizing the need to maintain competition integrity. The penalties specifically impacted 23XI Racing for supporting Bell and Chevrolet teams Trackhouse Racing and Richard Childress Racing for providing assistance to Byron.
“I would argue that before these incidents, we witnessed one of the best playoff races, and it’s truly frustrating to have this discussion in light of that,” O’Donnell remarked. He expressed anger regarding the events at Martinsville, stating that there was an understanding among the NASCAR community about proper conduct on the track. NASCAR considered suspensions for drivers Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, and Austin Dillon, but ultimately opted for fines while planning a meeting for drivers to discuss the situation.
Regarding the rulings and oversight, O’Donnell asserted that NASCAR maintains consistency and will not be eliminating the playoff system. He noted the universality of officiating questions across sports, reinforcing that while there’s room for feedback, the NASCAR playoff structure is here to stay. He also indicated that upcoming changes might be made to the format in the offseason.
In another significant issue, NASCAR declined to comment on the federal antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports pertaining to their standing as chartered teams next season, especially following a recent court ruling against them.
In closing remarks, Phelps paid tribute to retiring former Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., acknowledging his contributions and character within the sport. Truex, who claimed his championship in 2017 with Furniture Row Racing, is known for his clean driving style and strong fan following. Phelps also mentioned Tony Stewart, who is divesting his stake in Stewart-Haas Racing to focus on family and drag racing, wishing him well in his future endeavors.
Overall, the tone of Phelps’ address reflected both a commitment to maintaining the integrity of racing while navigating the challenges posed by controversies and transitions within the sport.
