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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Roger Penske has already celebrated two sports car championships this season as he heads to Phoenix Raceway, where he has a chance to secure a third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series title. This opportunity lies with two of his drivers, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney, who both enter the winner-take-all season finale.

The pair of drivers from Team Penske aim to continue their success after Logano won the title in 2022, followed by Blaney’s championship last year. They face competition from Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing, one of the teams currently involved in an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR. A preliminary court hearing took place Monday, with a federal judge expected to issue a ruling on a preliminary injunction by Friday, which coincides with NASCAR’s first practice session at Phoenix.

In addition, William Byron from Hendrick Motorsports secured a spot in the championship race after authorities disqualified Christopher Bell for a safety infraction during a race at Martinsville Speedway — a maneuver inspired by Ross Chastain’s well-known wall ride from 2022 that has since been deemed illegal. This sets up a showdown between two Ford race cars from Team Penske, a Toyota from 23XI, and a Chevrolet from the historic winning team, Hendrick Motorsports. The champion will be the highest finisher among these four contenders.

Here’s a closer look at the four finalists vying for the title:

Blaney, No. 12 Ford, Team Penske:

Blaney, at 30 years old, is a third-generation driver whose father is former NASCAR driver Dave Blaney. He is making his second appearance in the championship finale, having won in his debut last year. Facing a setback at Homestead-Miami Speedway just weeks ago, where he lost a championship spot to Reddick in the final turn, Blaney rebounded with a victory at Martinsville last Sunday, which is the same track that secured his championship berth last year. He boasts impressive stats at Phoenix, as no other driver has led more laps in the Next Gen car at this venue. Blaney also has two wins this season on shorter tracks measuring one mile or less, but he must overcome historical odds, as no driver has successfully defended a title since the playoffs began in 2014; the last two-time champion was Jimmie Johnson, who achieved this from 2006 to 2010.

Logano, No. 22 Ford, Team Penske:

Logano, another key contender, stands out as the only two-time champion in the group and, alongside Kyle Busch, remains one of the few active dual champions in NASCAR. This will be the 34-year-old’s sixth appearance in the championship race, after previously winning in 2018 and 2022, earning him the moniker “Even Year Logano.” Despite finishing 15th in the regular standings and needing a five-overtime win at Nashville to qualify for the playoffs, he managed to secure his spot after Alex Bowman’s disqualification unexpectedly revitalized his chances. Logano then went on to win the third-round opening race in Las Vegas, allowing his team to prepare thoroughly for Phoenix. However, Logano’s season performance has not been as strong compared to his fellow finalists, and he would not have reached the finale without Bowman’s post-race disqualification.

William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports:

Byron, the winner of the Daytona 500, has three victories this season and is back in the final four for the second consecutive year. The 26-year-old, hailing from Charlotte, made it to this stage due to Bell’s controversial move being ruled illegal. Last year, he was in a relationship with Blaney’s sister, but their romantic ties have since ended, which has led to occasional tension on the track this season. Byron clinched a win at Phoenix in March but has struggled to return to victory lane, entering this race with a 27-race winless streak since April.

Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota, 23XI Racing:

Reddick stands out as the lone newcomer in the championship four, racing for a relatively young team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and former Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin. At 28, Reddick is experiencing a significant year, having also been married this season. He performed admirably during the regular season and leads all drivers in laps led this year. Despite this, he faces challenges at Phoenix, a track where he has not traditionally excelled, as his season wins have happened on longer tracks. Reddick does have previous experience thriving in the Xfinity Series under this elimination format, having claimed two titles in that category.

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