The NASCAR Cup Series will conclude the 2021 season at the Phoenix Raceway on Sunday afternoon as the Championship 4 have been determined. Phoenix is a 1-mile dog-legged oval with 2 distinct ends of the raceway. Sunday’s race will be 312 laps to make up the 500-kilometer advertised distance. Leading up to Sunday’s Cup Series Finale, practice and qualifying will take place.
Here are a few drivers to consider for the Season Finale 500.
Kyle Larson +190- Larson heads into the Championship 4 at Phoenix off a 14th place finish at Martinsville one week ago. Larson finished 7th here at Phoenix in the Cup Race back in March this season and has 5 top finishes in 14 Cup Series starts at Phoenix. Kyle has the 3rd best average finish of 7th over the last 6 races held at the Phoenix Raceway in the Cup Series and had the 5th fastest green flag speed back in March of this season. Larson is not a shoe in to win on Sunday after like he has been at other tracks but will be in contention.
Chase Elliott +350- One year ago, Chase brought home the 2020 Cup Series Championship here at the Phoenix Raceway. Chase has 11 career Cup Series starts at Phoenix and 4 top 5 finishes, both top 5 finishes over the last 2 Cup Series races held at Phoenix. Over the last 7 Cup Series races held at Phoenix, Chase has the 4th best average driver rating of 105.9, even with an average finish of 13.14. Expect Chase to battling it out with teammate Kyle Larson at the conclusion of the Season Finale 500.
Denny Hamlin +400- Hamlin was able to stay above the cutline after the run in with Alex Bowman at Martinsville one week ago in the Cup Series and now has the opportunity to run for a Championship in 2021. Over the last 7 Cup Series races held at Phoenix, Denny has the 3rd best average driver rating of 110.6 and an average finish of 7.14. In 32 career Cup starts at Phoenix, Denny has 15 top 5 finishes including 2 wins. Hamlin had the fastest car on green flag runs here at Phoenix back in March and look for another great race on Sunday.
Martin Truex Jr. +450- Martin quietly did enough to finish 4 at Martinsville one week ago in the Cup Series and made the Championship 4. Truex has the 7th best average driver rating of 110.0 in the last 7 Cup Series races at Phoenix with an average finish of 10.00 in that timespan. Martin led 64 of the 312 total laps in March of 2021 at Phoenix on the way to a victory. Truex and team have very solid on the flat tracks on the season, especially with the 750-horsepower engine package. I expect Truex to be in contention in the final stage.
Joey Logano +2200- Joey didn’t make the Championship 4 here in 2021 but is looking to cap off the year with a win. Logano has 25 career starts with 14 top 10 finishes including 7 top 5s and 2 wins. Joey has the 5th best average driver rating of 103.7 at Phoenix over the last 7 Cup Series races at Phoenix. Joey had the wnd best average green flag speed in the March Phoenix Cup Race earlier this season on the way to finishing 2nd. Sprinkle some action here on Logano on Sunday afternoon as a spoiler.
AUTHOR: Jeff Jeter
