Race Details
Event: NASCAR Cup Series Championship 2023
Date: Sunday, November 5, 2023
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Location: Phoenix Raceway
Watch: NBC, MRN, SiriusXM
Track Information: Phoenix Raceway, known for its unique tri-oval shape, offers drivers diverse challenges at each corner.
Race Highlights
Defending Champion: Joey Logano. The defending champ will not repeat his title reign after getting collected in a wreck in Stage 3 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Locked In: Kyle Larson has secured his place to compete for the championship at Phoenix Raceway, leaving the other three up for grabs.
On The Line: The remaining seven drivers in the Round of 8 are battling to lock one of those three spots in the Championship 4.
Next Battlefront: Things get a little zesty at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where historically champions have been crowned.
Drivers Spotlight
Christopher Bell: Currently -2 to the elimination line, Bell barely missed out at Las Vegas. His record at Homestead may be modest, but he’s no stranger to clutch, as demonstrated by his walk-off win at Martinsville last season.
Tyler Reddick: Trailing by 16 points, Reddick has historically stepped up at Homestead-Miami. Known for his high-line driving style, he’s secured two Xfinity Series championships at this track. A win here could see him contesting for the Cup Series championship for the first time, and that’s legacy-type stuff right there.
Ryan Blaney: With 17 points to make up, Blaney is hunting for his breakout moment in the penultimate round of the playoffs. Though he’s had missteps at Homestead, his 2023 victory on the 1.5-mile track at Charlotte did him some good. Yet, his most promising avenue might be Martinsville, with a hell of a track record there.
Chris Buescher: Despite being 23 points adrift, Buescher’s remarkable season keeps hope alive. Without wins at Homestead-Miami or Martinsville, he’s shown Lightning McQueen-like speed at Michigan and a wild run at Richmond this year. Buescher’s recent performances challenge conventional stats, making him the wild card in this playoff.
Predictions
With the end of the NASCAR Cup Series 2023 season hanging its final left, each lap moving forward counts that much more. Larson has some breathing room for now, but the heart is on as the other contenders duke it out to join him in Phoenix. Homestead-Miami Speedway will weed out three new contenders and write another chapter in NASCAR history. Buckle up. Check back in after Home-Stead to see our Cup Championship Prediction!
Race Winner: Ross Chastain
Dark Horse: Chris Buescher, given his unpredictable yet impressive runs this season.
