2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 36 of 36 in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series
Date November 5, 2023 (2023-11-05)
Location Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona
Course Permanent racing facility
1 mi (1.6 km)
Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (499.2 km)
Average speed 108.827 miles per hour (175.140 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Time 27.150
Most laps led
Driver Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing
Laps 157
Winner
No. 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing
Television in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth Announcers Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace
Turn Announcers Dave Moody (1 & 2) and Mike Bagley (3 & 4)

The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on November 5, 2023, at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Contested over 312 laps on the one mile (1.6 km) oval, it was the 36th and final race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. This was also the last race for Kevin Harvick, as he announced he would be retiring from the Cup Series.

Report

Background

Phoenix Raceway, the track where the race was held.

Phoenix Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The raceway was originally constructed with a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current 1.51 mi (2.43 km) interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.

Phoenix Raceway is home to two annual NASCAR race weekends, one of 13 facilities on the NASCAR schedule to host more than one race weekend a year. The track is both the first and last stop in the western United States, as well as the fourth and the last track on the schedule.

Championship drivers

Kyle Larson was the first of four drivers to clinch a spot in the Championship 4, winning the first race of the Round of 8 at Las Vegas. Christopher Bell clinched the second spot in the Championship 4, winning the second race of the Round of 8 at Homestead. Ryan Blaney clinched the third spot in the Championship 4, winning the third race of the Round of 8 at Martinsville. William Byron clinched the final spot in the Championship 4, based on points.[10]

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
  • (CC) denotes championship contender.
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
2Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord
5Kyle Larson (CC)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
6Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord
7Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
8Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
12Ryan Blaney (CC)Team PenskeFord
14Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord
15J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFord
16A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet
17Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord
19Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Christopher Bell (CC)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Harrison BurtonWood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota
24William Byron (CC)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
31Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet
34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord
38Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord
41Ryan PreeceStewart-Haas RacingFord
42Carson Hocevar (i)Legacy Motor ClubChevrolet
43Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubChevrolet
45Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota
47Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51Ryan Newman (i)Rick Ware RacingFord
54Ty Gibbs (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
77Ty DillonSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
78B. J. McLeod (i)Live Fast MotorsportsChevrolet
99Daniel SuárezTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
Official entry list

Practice

Kyle Busch was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 27.520 seconds and a speed of 130.814 mph (210.525 km/h).[11]

Practice results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 8Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet27.520130.814
2 23Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota27.549130.676
3 12Ryan Blaney (CC)Team PenskeFord27.602130.425
Official practice results

Qualifying

William Byron scored the pole for the race with a time of 27.150 and a speed of 132.597 mph (213.394 km/h).[12]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2
1 24William Byron (CC)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet27.07427.150
2 19Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota27.18227.168
3 4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord27.06727.186
4 5Kyle Larson (CC)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet27.14927.191
5 23Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota27.13027.219
6 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota27.12427.244
7 43Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubChevrolet27.15127.368
8 1Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet27.10627.386
9 17Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord27.12927.458
10 45Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota27.15027.957
11 54Ty Gibbs (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota27.181
12 41Ryan PreeceStewart-Haas RacingFord27.182
13 20Christopher Bell (CC)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota27.203
14 38Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord27.205
15 12Ryan Blaney (CC)Team PenskeFord27.218
16 99Daniel SuárezTrackhouse RacingChevrolet27.232
17 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord27.241
18 8Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet27.246
19 34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord27.249
20 9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet27.266
21 3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet27.275
22 42Carson Hocevar (i)Legacy Motor ClubChevrolet27.280
23 48Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet27.295
24 47Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet27.316
25 21Harrison BurtonWood Brothers RacingFord27.421
26 14Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord27.444
27 2Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord27.446
28 10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord27.460
29 7Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet27.557
30 51Ryan Newman (i)Rick Ware RacingFord27.578
31 6Cole Custer (i)[lower-alpha 1]RFK RacingFord27.582
32 16A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet27.599
33 77Ty DillonSpire MotorsportsChevrolet27.606
34 15J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFord27.662
35 31Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet28.003
36 78B. J. McLeod (i)Live Fast MotorsportsChevrolet29.248
Official qualifying results

Race

  • Note: Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, and William Byron were not eligible for stage points because of their participation in the Championship 4.

Race results

For the first time since 2013, the final race of the season was not won by the eventual Cup Series Champion. Instead, Trackhouse driver Ross Chastain, who was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, wound up dominating the second half of the race to take the win, his second of the season and his fourth overall. As Ryan Blaney, who placed second, had the highest finishing position of the drivers who qualified for the Championship 4, he was declared the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Champion.

Stage results

Stage One Laps: 60

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
124William Byron (CC)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet0
24Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord9
31Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet8
423Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota7
55Kyle Larson (CC)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet0
619Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyoa5
717Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord4
843Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubChevrolet3
920Christopher Bell (CC)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota0
1012Ryan Blaney (CC)Team PenskeFord0
Official stage one results

Stage Two Laps: 125

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
117Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord10
21Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet9
34Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord8
424William Byron (CC)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet0
519Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota6
612Ryan Blaney (CC)Team PenskeFord0
75Kyle Larson (CC)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet0
823Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota3
96Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord2
1043Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubChevrolet1
Official stage two results

Final Stage results

Stage Three Laps: 127

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
181Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet31257
21512Ryan Blaney (CC)Team PenskeFord31235
345Kyle Larson (CC)Hendrick MotorsprotsChevrolet31234
4124William Byron (CC)Hendrick MotorsprotsChevrolet31233
5917Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord31247
6219Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota31241
734Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord31247
8611Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota31229
91934Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord31228
10523Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota31237
111699Daniel SuárezTrackhouse RacingChevrolet31226
12213Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet31225
132810Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord31224
141241Ryan PreeceStewart-Haas RacingFord31223
15316Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord31224
16209Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31221
172348Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31220
181722Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord31219
192242Carson Hocevar (i)Legacy Motor ClubChevrolet3120
20743Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubChevrolet31221
211154Ty Gibbs (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota31216
221045Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota31215
232447Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet31214
242614Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord31213
25188Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet31112
262521Harrison BurtonWood Brothers RacingFord31111
273415J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFord3110
283377Ty DillonSpire MotorsportsChevrolet3109
293531Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet3108
301438Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord3097
31297Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet3086
323216A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet3085
333678B. J. McLeod (i)Live Fast MotorsportsChevrolet3060
343051Ryan Newman (i)Rick Ware RacingFord3050
35272Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord3012
361320Christopher Bell (CC)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota1081
Official race results

Race statistics

  • Lead changes: 18 among 8 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 4 for 27 laps
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 52 minutes, and 1 second
  • Average speed: 108.827 miles per hour (175.140 km/h)

Media

Television

NBC covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, two–time Phoenix winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and three-time Phoenix winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Kim Coon, Parker Kligerman and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane.

NBC
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Steve Letarte
Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dave Burns
Kim Coon
Parker Kligerman
Marty Snider

Radio

MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace called the action from the broadcast booth when the field races down the front straightaway. Dave Moody called the action from turns 1 & 2 and Mike Bagley called the action from turns 3 & 4. Steve Post, Jacklyn Drake, Jason Toy, and Chris Wilner covered the action for MRN from pit lane.

MRN Radio
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Announcer: Rusty Wallace
Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody
Turns 3 & 4: Mike Bagley
Steve Post
Jacklyn Drake
Jason Toy
Chris Wilner

Standings after the race

Notes

  1. Cole Custer filled in for Brad Keselowski for Qualifying as Keselowski and his wife, Paige welcomed their third child.[13]

References

  1. "2023 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  2. "Phoenix Raceway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on March 10, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  3. Taranto, Steven (September 14, 2022). "NASCAR releases 2023 Cup Series schedule highlighted by new Chicago, All-Star race stops". CBS Broadcasting Inc. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  4. "NASCAR unveils 2023 schedule for its national series". National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC. September 14, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  5. "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  6. "Practice Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  7. "Qualifying Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  8. "NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  9. "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  10. "BUILT for the Playoffs: 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 set for Phoenix". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. October 29, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  11. Utter, Jim (November 3, 2023). "Busch tops Cup practice before incident; Blaney leads title contenders". Motorsport.com. Avondale, Arizona: Motorsport Network. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  12. Utter, Jim (November 4, 2023). "William Byron earns pole position for NASCAR Cup title-decider". Motorsport.com. Avondale, Arizona: Motorsport Network. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  13. "Brad Keselowski to skip Phoenix qualifying to attend birth of so". ESPN.com. ESPN. November 4, 2023.
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