2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship: Live Updates and Race Analysis from Phoenix

Create a news article using this content “,”author”:{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”John Parker”},”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Yahoo Sports”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:” Championship live blog: Follow along as the 2023 title is awarded in Phoenix”,”datePublished”:”2023-11-05T20:17:31.000Z”,”articleBody”:””,”author”:{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”John Parker”},”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Yahoo Sports”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:” Championship live blog: Follow along as the 2023 title is awarded in Phoenix”,”datePublished”:”2023-11-05T20:17:13.000Z”,”articleBody”:””,”author”:{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”John Parker”},”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Yahoo Sports”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:” Championship live blog: Follow along as the 2023 title is awarded in Phoenix”,”datePublished”:”2023-11-05T20:17:00.000Z”,”articleBody”:””,”author”:{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”John Parker”},”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Yahoo Sports”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:” Championship live blog: Follow along as the 2023 title is awarded in Phoenix”,”datePublished”:”2023-11-05T20:11:13.000Z”,”articleBody”:””,”author”:{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”John Parker”},”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Yahoo Sports”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:” Championship live blog: Follow along as the 2023 title is awarded in Phoenix”,”datePublished”:”2023-11-05T20:10:54.000Z”,”articleBody”:””,”author”:{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”John Parker”},”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Yahoo Sports”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:” Championship live blog: Follow along as the 2023 title is awarded in Phoenix”,”datePublished”:”2023-11-05T20:10:31.000Z”,”articleBody”:””,”author”:{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”John Parker”},”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Yahoo Sports”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:” Championship live blog: Follow along as the 2023 title is awarded in Phoenix”,”datePublished”:”2023-11-05T20:10:16.000Z”,”articleBody”:””,”author”:{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”John Parker”},”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Yahoo Sports”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:” Championship live blog: Follow along as the 2023 title is awarded in Phoenix”,”datePublished”:”2023-11-05T20:10:05.000Z”,”articleBody”:””,”author”:{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”John Parker”},”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Yahoo Sports”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:” Championship live blog: Follow along as the 2023 title is awarded in Phoenix”,”datePublished”:”2023-11-05T20:03:11.000Z”,”articleBody”:””,”author”:{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”John Parker”},”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Yahoo Sports”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:” Read full articleThe NASCAR Cup Series will crown its 2023 champion on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, William Byron and 2021 series champion Kyle Larson will vie for the championship at the unique, dog-leg oval. Bell, Blaney and Larson all won in the Round of 8 to advance, while Byron, who with six victories is the winningest driver in the series this year, had to sweat it out at Martinsville last week to point his way into the finale.But points don’t matter Sunday — the driver who finishes best among those four will hoist the Cup.Here’s what to know ahead of the championship race:NASCAR Cup Series Championship starting gridWilliam Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletMartin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaKevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing FordKyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletBubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing ToyotaDenny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaErik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletRoss Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing ChevroletChris Buescher (17), RFK Racing FordTyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing ToyotaTy Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaRyan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing FordChristopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaTodd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports FordRyan Blaney (12), Team Penske FordDaniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing ChevroletJoey Logano (22), Team Penske FordKyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing ChevroletMichael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports FordChase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletAustin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing ChevroletCarson Hocevar (42), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletAlex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletRicky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing ChevroletHarrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing FordChase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing FordAustin Cindric (2), Team Penske FordAric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing FordCorey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports ChevroletRyan Newman (51), Rick Ware Racing FordCole Custer (6), RFK Racing FordAJ Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing ChevroletTy Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports ChevroletJ.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing FordJustin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing ChevroletBJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports FordNASCAR Cup Series Championship TV/streaming scheduleAll times EasternFriday8-9 p.m.: Practice (USA, NBC Sports app)Saturday4:30-5:30 p.m.: Qualifying (USA, NBC Sports app)Sunday3-6:30 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series Championship (NBC, Peacock, NBC Sports app)NASCAR Cup Series Championship detailsTrack: Phoenix Raceway | 1-mile, low-banked dog-leg oval in Avondale, ArizonaBanking: Frontstretch dog-leg – 0-11 degrees | Turns 1-2 – 8-9 degrees | Backstretch – 3 degrees | Turns 3-4 – 10-11 degreesRace length: 312 lapsStage lengths: Stage 1 – 60 laps | Stage 2 – 125 laps | Stage 3 – 127 laps2022 winner: Joey Logano (22), Team Penske FordTop drivers and best bets for the NASCAR Cup Series ChampionshipThe championship quartet are the four drivers with the best odds to win the race, according to BetMGM. In all nine years under the current playoff format, the champion has won the finale, which includes Kyle Larson’s 2021 crown. Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, William Byron, took the first of his six victories this season in the spring race at Phoenix.Best odds to win• Kyle Larson +175• Ryan Blaney +275• William Byron +325• Christopher Bell +450Yahoo Sports’ Nick Bromberg broke down the title race odds earlier in the week, and in addition to backing the favorites, he likes recently eliminated Denny Hamlin (+2000), who has the third-best average finish of any driver in the field at Phoenix. If you’re looking at the long shots, Kyle Busch (+5000) sports an even better average finish at Phoenix than Hamlin at 10.6.Kevin Harvick’s final rideSunday will mark Kevin Harvick’s final race in the NASCAR Cup Series.Harvick announced his retirement back in January. He will step away after 23 seasons in which he made 826 starts and scored 443 top-10s, 251 top-5s and 60 wins so far. Harvick has 30 top-10s, including 20 top-5s and nine wins, in 41 career starts at Phoenix, so adding to one or all of those totals is a distinct possibility as he bids farewell.The Bakersfield, California, native’s career began under tragic circumstances, as he stepped into the legendary Dale Earnhardt’s car after the seven-time champion was tragically killed at the 2001 Daytona 500. Harvick famously won in just his third start that season and has not looked back.Kevin Harvick (front) claimed the first win of his legendary NASCAR Cup Series career in just his third start at Atlanta in 2001. (Archive photo by Jon Ferrey/Allsport) (Jonathan Ferrey via Getty Images)NASCAR Cup Series Championship entry listRoss Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing ChevroletAustin Cindric (2), Team Penske FordAustin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing ChevroletKevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing FordKyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletCole Custer (6), RFK Racing FordCorey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports ChevroletKyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing ChevroletChase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletAric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing FordDenny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaRyan Blaney (12), Team Penske FordChase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing FordJ.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing FordAJ Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing ChevroletChris Buescher (17), RFK Racing FordMartin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaChristopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaHarrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing FordJoey Logano (22), Team Penske FordBubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing ToyotaWilliam Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJustin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing ChevroletMichael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports FordTodd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports FordRyan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing FordCarson Hocevar (42), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletErik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletTyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing ToyotaRicky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing ChevroletAlex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletRyan Newman (51), Rick Ware Racing FordTy Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaTy Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports ChevroletBJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports FordDaniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing ChevroletNASCAR Cup Series Championship weatherThe forecast calls for daytime high temperatures in the high 80s, with little-to-no cloud cover. That puts things squarely in the hands of the drivers — particularly the Championship 4 — as the track will be slick and evolve as the day goes on.