Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace describe working with Michael Jordan at 23XI Racing
USA TODAY Sports’ Josh Peter speaks with NASCAR drivers Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace about partnerning with Michael Jordan at 23XI Racing.
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NASCAR will crown a champion Sunday as Phoenix Raceway hosts the final race of the 2025 Cup Series season.
Four drivers – Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Kyle Larson and Chase Briscoe – will race against each other and a full field of cars on the 1-mile oval, hoping to celebrate a 2025 championship.
Hamlin and Briscoe drive for Joe Gibbs Racing and Byron and Larson for Hendrick Motorsports, giving each owner a 50% chance to win the title.
Larson, 33, is seeking his second title after winning the 2021 championship, while the other three are trying to collect their first. Hamlin, 44, enters as the sentimental favorite, hoping to add the final item missing from his Hall-of-Fame resume. Byron, 27, could become the sixth driver in NASCAR history to win a championship and the Daytona 500 in the same season. And Briscoe, 30, is trying to win the title in his first season at Joe Gibbs Racing.
USA TODAY Sports will provide full coverage of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race. Follow along for updates, news and highlights:
The green flag has waved in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway. Championship contenders Denny Hamlin and William Byron lead the field to open Stage 1. Kyle Larson starts third and Chase Briscoe 12th.
How to watch 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship race
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
- Track: Phoenix Raceway (Avondale, Arizona)
- Time: 3 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local)
- TV: NBC
- Streaming: Peacock and Fubo (free trial for new subscribers)
Stream NASCAR Championship race on Fubo
Who are the 2025 NASCAR Championship 4 drivers?
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
Denny Hamlin won the pole for the NACAR Cup Series Championship Race during Saturday’s qualifying with two other title contenders directly behind him. William Byron starts on the front row alongside Hamlin, while Kyle Larson starts third on the second row alongside Austin Cindric. The final championship contender, Chase Briscoe, qualified 12th.
Actress Sydney Sweeney and WNBA star Sophie Cunningham were among the VIPs at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race drivers meeting at Phoenix Raceway today.
Sweeney also came out on stage with the checkered flag during driver introductions, pumping up the crowd and motivating the drivers. Sweeney stars as women’s boxing trailblazer Christy Martin in the film “Christy,” coming to theaters on Nov. 7.
Cunningham plays for the Indiana Fever, who reached the semifinals of the 2025 WNBA playoffs, and previously played for the Phoenix Mercury.
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
- Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
- Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
- Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
- Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
- Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
- Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
- JJ Yeley, No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet
- Casey Mears, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford
- Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
The NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race is 312 laps around the one-mile track for a total of 312 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 60 laps; Stage 2: 125 laps; Stage 3: 137 laps.
Denny Hamlin is the favorite to win the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series title among the Championship 4 contenders based on by BetMGM as of 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 2:
- Denny Hamlin ….. +190
- Kyle Larson ….. +230
- William Byron ….. +230
- Chase Briscoe ….. +550
Here are the favorites to win Sunday’s race, according to BetMGM odds as of 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 2:
- Denny Hamlin (+310)
- Kyle Larson (+350)
- William Byron (+350)
- Ryan Blaney (+425)
- Christopher Bell (+1100)
- Chase Briscoe (+1200)
- Joey Logano (+1400)
- Chase Elliott (+2500)
- Austin Cindric (+2500)
How the NASCAR Cup Series championship contenders fared in the 2025 Cup Series season:
William Byron
- Car: No. 24 Chevrolet
- Team: Hendrick Motorsports
- Age: 27
- DOB: Nov. 29, 1997
∎ 2025 STATISTICS
- Wins: Three
- Top fives: 11
- Top 10s: 16
- Laps led: 1,278
- Poles: Three
Chase Briscoe
- Car: No. 19 Toyota
- Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
- Age: 30
- DOB: Dec. 15, 1994
∎ 2025 STATISTICS
- Wins: Three
- Top fives: 15
- Top 10s: 19
- Laps led: 881
- Poles: Seven
Denny Hamlin
- Car: No. 11 Toyota
- Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
- Age: 44
- DOB: Nov. 18, 1980
∎ 2025 STATISTICS
- Wins: Six
- Top fives: 14
- Top 10s: 17
- Laps led: 816
- Poles: Four
Kyle Larson
- Car: No. 5 Chevrolet
- Team: Hendrick Motorsports
- Age: 33
- DOB: July 31, 1992
∎ 2025 STATISTICS
- Wins: Three
- Top fives: 14
- Top 10s: 21
- Laps led: 1,106
- Poles: One
Joey Logano won just one race during the regular season in 2024 but stormed to three victories in the playoffs – crucially, the Championship Race in Phoenix. He captured his third Cup Series title, becoming the 10th driver in history to do so. He took the lead during the final stage and held off Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney to take home the title. William Byron, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell rounded out the top five.
Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson have each won seven championships, most in NASCAR Cup Series history.
- 1T. Richard Petty ….. 7
- 1T. Dale Earnhardt ….. 7
- 1T. Jimmie Johnson ….. 7
- 4. Jeff Gordon ….. 4
- 5T. Lee Petty ….. 3
- 5T. David Pearson ….. 3
- 5T. Cale Yarborough ….. 3
- 5T. Darrell Waltrip ….. 3
- 5T. Tony Stewart ….. 3
- 5T. Joey Logano ….. 3
What time does the NASCAR championship race start?
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship race is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local) at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. The green flag is scheduled to drop at 3:34 p.m. ET (1:34 p.m. local).
The NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race will be broadcast on NBC. Pre-race coverage will start at 2 p.m. ET (12 p.m. local). The race can be streamed on Peacock and Fubo.
