After 35 races, the Cup Series season is approaching its merciful end.
The final race of the season, held at Phoenix Raceway, is set to feature 37 drivers. Only four can claim NASCAR’s ultimate prize, though — a silver jug whose title reflects its importance: the NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
With that, here’s a look at the jockeys set to joust for a chance to call the Cup Series crown their own.
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NASCAR Championship 4 drivers 2025
Denny Hamlin
Hamlin was the first driver to punch his ticket to the Championship 4, racing to victory at Las Vegas to land a spot in the desert. This is Hamlin’s fifth-career Championship 4 appearance. He is still seeking his first Cup Series Championship, an accomplishment that would cement his place as one of the dozen or so greatest drivers in history — if he isn’t there already.
Hamlin has six wins on the season, the most in the Cup Series field. He’s found consistency atop asphalt, finding success on a variety of different configurations. Claiming a Cup Series crown is largely predicated on victories. No one has done that better than the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran. Expect him to make some noise come Sunday afternoon.
William Byron
Byron is the boy wonder of the group, claiming his third Championship 4 appearance in as many years. At just 27 years old, Byron is already one of the most decorated drivers in the Cup field. He showcased a flair for the dramatic at Martinsville, using a bump-and-run to get past Team Penske star Ryan Blaney in the final few laps.
Byron, a former iRacing prodigy turned Hendrick Motorsports supernova, has fury in his tires. Despite his pedigree, he has yet to make a real push for the title in the final race of the season. Perhaps his third time will be the charm.
Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson is undoubtedly one of the best drivers in the world, regardless of vehicle. Although he didn’t land quite as many checkered flags as he would’ve hoped for — Larson scored 10 wins when he last one a Cup Series title in 2021 — the Hendrick Motorsports star is a maven in open air.
Larson scored 13 top-fives this season, the second-best tally in the field. He also led more than 1,100 laps, nearly 300 more than Hamlin. When Larson was on, he was hard to stop.
Now, Larson has some volatility in his race-craft, having suffered his fair share of collisions over the years. But there are few drivers that strike more fear into their opponents than Larson, a jockey whose thoroughbred is as reliable as they come in crunch time.
Chase Briscoe
Briscoe is the lone newcomer to the Championship 4, having never made an appearance before this year. In fact, Briscoe’s highest season finish before 2025 was ninth-place.
Then again, he didn’t have the top-tier equipment he needed to find his rhythm. Simply, Briscoe’s debut season at Joe Gibbs Racing has been one for the record books. He brought the No. 19 back to victory lane for the first time since 2023. Strong showings at Darlington and Talladega kept his season rolling. And although Briscoe might not have quite the recognition of some of his adversaries, he has been arguably the steadiest performer in the field this year, with a field-high 15 top-five finishes to his name.
Couple that with his consistency in qualifying – Briscoe has six poles, better than any other Cup Series driver — and it’s easy to see why some think Briscoe could be coronated in the Valley of the Sun.
What are the rules for the NASCAR Cup Series championship race at Phoenix?
The Cup Series championship race will consist of three stages and 312 laps on the one-mile track. The objective is simple: whichever championship driver finishes highest wins the Cup Series title. Points totaled during the regular season and playoffs are not applied.
More often than not, championship racers compete for the checkered flag at Phoenix. But if another driver were to pick up the win, the overall title is given to the best finisher among Championship 4 drivers.
When is the NASCAR Cup Series championship race?
The NASCAR Cup Series championship race is set to take place on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 3 p.m. ET.
Where is the NASCAR Cup Series championship race?
The NASCAR Cup Series championship race will be run at Phoenix Raceway, the site of each of the last five championship races.
Chase Elliott nabbed the Cup Series title at Phoenix in 2020, the first year it was held at the track. Larson wore the crown in 2021, Joey Logano was the big winner in 2022 and 2024 and Blaney took home the gold in 2023.
