AVONDALE, Ariz. — After a dust-up between a championship favorite and an Arizona native, it only seems fitting that the NASCAR Cup Series’ next stop is the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. While early claims of the “best season ever” may be a stretch to conclude, it’s been one of the more memorable campaigns in the sport’s recent history.
It all boils down to the four most dominant drivers of the season: Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr. Hendrick Motorsports vs. Joe Gibbs Racing in the eighth finale under the winner-take-all Championship 4 format.
Sure, it’s easy to call Larson or Hamlin the favorites with the historic and illustrious seasons they’ve had, but the case can be made for all four competitors and why they will hoist the Bill France Cup on Nov. 7.
And that’s precisely what the following testimonies are designed to showcase.
Not only has Larson compiled the most successful season in the field, but it was also one of the most dominant in NASCAR history. His nine victories matched Kevin Harvick’s prior season, but his 2,747 laps led are the most ever in a single season by over 400 (and counting).
Although the No. 5 team has shown speed at essentially every track on the circuit, only two of their victories came on ovals using the 750-horsepower package like Phoenix. That’s not to say Larson can’t get it done in the Valley of the Sun.
In the Spring, Larson started from the rear of the field for failing inspection and charged his way to the front — again, and again, and again. After three speeding penalties throughout the day, the Hendrick Motorsports driver could execute 145 green-flag passes and finish a respectable seventh with one of the fastest cars all day.
“I’m honestly glad that I had those speeding penalties [in Phoenix] earlier this year, and then I’m glad I had two last week at Martinsville (Speedway) because it kind of raises your awareness,” Larson told The Circuit Journal. “You study it a lot harder going into this week, you look at why you made those mistakes, and you’re just more conscious and aware every time you come down pit road now to not make those mistakes.”
Larson’s teammate and defending champion, Elliott, hasn’t had the flashy late-season success that won him the title last season. Still, he’s been incredibly fast every week and seemingly knocking on the door — but is it too little too late with one race remaining, or perfect timing.
Elliott has always had one of the fastest cars at Phoenix since his full-time Cup career began in 2016. He was finally able to overcome disastrous luck and win in Zoomtown on the biggest stage possible last November, and he’s also riding a three-race top-10 streak at the one-mile track with seven total in 11 starts.
As had been on display throughout his young and successful career, Elliott once again carries a reserved and calm demeanor into the series finale — even being deemed an underdog while holding the title of reigning champion.
“We’ve kind of prepared the same way as a group,” Elliott told The Circuit Journal. “Our team has not changed, really, and I feel like we’re in a good place. I feel like we performed really well these last couple of weeks, so I don’t feel like much has changed from that front.”
The driver that hardly anybody is taking notice of is the one who emerged victorious in the Spring at Phoenix — Truex. The 2017 champion, in addition to his JGR teammates, has been the class of the field on 750 tracks. In fact, all four of his wins this season have come at tracks utilizing that rules package.
Not only has Truex been the standard of excellence on 750 tracks, but he’s been nearly unbeatable on short tracks in recent years, with six of his last seven victories coming at such venues. Although Phoenix has been touted as a short track that races like an intermediate, that doesn’t change the string of success the driver of the No. 19 has put together at those tracks.
He’s hoping to rekindle some magic from 2017 in his fifth Championship 4 appearance.
“The only difference is in 2017 we were dominant throughout the year,” Truex told The Circuit Journal. “We won a ton of races, and this year we’ve just been really dominant on 750 tracks and kind of just hanging around there on the 550 tracks. Definitely not a dominant car, but I feel like we’ve won the right races when you look at Phoenix and being here in this championship race, so I think we’ve got the edge.”
Lastly comes the aforementioned championship favorite who went off the rails at Martinsville after Alex Bowman took him out for the win — Hamlin. Making his fourth bid at a championship in under the current format in addition to countless shortcomings throughout his career, the driver of the No. 11 has been the best car all year along with Larson, even with only two wins on the season.
Law of averages should equal a Hamlin championship soon enough, and something feels different this year. Aside from entering the series finale completely unhinged, it seems as if the new team owner is more motivated than ever to get it done.
With a series-best 8.6 average finish and two wins at Phoenix, could this fire be what Hamlin needs to win a championship finally? Better yet, does he care? Back in 2019, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver stated he was “content” with his career, including never being crowned champion. Are those sentiments echoed two years later?
“This year, I’ve just been more comfortable in general with who I am and the accomplishments that we’ve had, and I’ve had,” Hamlin told The Circuit Journal. “I’ve accomplished way more than I ever could have imagined, for sure. I’m content. I’m content and at peace with myself and my career, and I could quit on Monday — maybe I will, maybe I won’t — and be happy with everything I’ve done. I just feel like I’m at peace with whatever the result is.”
All four drivers make convincing arguments for why they can be the 2021 Cup Series champion, but I have to go with Larson. You just get the sense that the historic season he’s put together is leading up to this point.
It’s essential to keep in mind that he started from the rear and had multiple speeding penalties that prevented him from winning at Phoenix earlier this year. While he’ll need to iron out those issues on pit road to hoist the Bill France Cup, last weekend at Martinville was a painful reminder and wake-up call for the series finale.
Driver aside, the No. 5 team led by Cliff Daniels has been essentially flawless all season. Whether they were gaining the team positions with fast pit stops or overcoming multiple electrical issues to win at Charlotte, among many other things, they’ve proven to be championship-caliber from the top-down.
The use of the late Ricky Hendrick’s paint scheme has been another underrated and redemptive narrative this season, and it’s all leading up to what’s going to be a special celebration in Phoenix on Sunday.
The NASCAR Cup Series championship from Phoenix Raceway will take place at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. Sound off in the comments on who you think will be the 2021 Cup Series Champion.
