The NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race will conclude the season on Sunday, November 2, at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, with the final showdown set to air on NBC Sports at 3 p.m. ET. As the decisive battle for the title, the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race will see top drivers compete in the 36th and last event of the year, where stakes are at their peak for teams and fans alike.
Phoenix Raceway Prepares for the Season’s Decisive Event
Located in Avondale, Arizona, Phoenix Raceway will play host to the concluding chapter of this season’s NASCAR Cup Series. This one-mile circuit serves as the final setting for the Next Gen car, making its eighth appearance at the site. The 312 scheduled laps are split into three well-defined stages: an initial segment concluding at lap 60, a middle stint of 125 laps, and a final push of 127 laps that will decide the championship outcome. The venue’s track features unique characteristics, including nine degrees of banking in the frontstretch, three degrees on the backstretch, nine degrees in turns one and two, and an even sharper eleven-degree banking in turns three and four.
Phoenix Raceway began hosting the Cup Series Championship finale in 2020, and Chase Elliott was the first to win a title at this venue. Since then, the track has become synonymous with the season’s most critical race, and its tricky layout often produces tense, action-packed finishes.
Lineup, Notable Teams, and Drivers Heading Into the Finale
This year marks the sixth time Phoenix Raceway has held the annual championship race. Thirty-eight drivers are entered in this decisive contest, aiming to master the challenging 312-lap distance and stake their claim to NASCAR’s highest honor. Two of the competitors, J.J. Yeley from the NY Racing Team (#44) and Casey Mears from Garage 66 (#66), are the only open drivers set to take part in the finale, representing teams without full-time charter status.
The starting grid for Sunday’s race will be settled through qualifying rounds. Before the main race, drivers and teams will participate in final practice and qualifying sessions at the track, providing one last opportunity to fine-tune car setups ahead of the championship.
Joey Logano, the Team Penske driver who triumphed in last year’s championship, enters this year’s race as the defending event winner. However, Logano’s hopes of repeating as champion came to an end after he was eliminated in the Round of 8, highlighting the unpredictable and competitive nature of the playoffs. Names like Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch also feature in the ongoing narrative, contributing to the drama surrounding the finale.
Weekend Schedule: Practice, Qualifying, and Other Series Events
The Phoenix Raceway weekend is packed with high-octane events across multiple series. The action begins on Thursday, October 30, with NASCAR Truck Series practice in the evening.
Friday, October 31, opens with ARCA Menards Series West practice at 2 p.m. ET, followed by their qualifying round at 3 p.m. and NASCAR Truck Series qualifying at 3:35 p.m. The NASCAR Xfinity Series takes to the track for practice at 4:35 p.m. and Cup Series drivers follow at 5:35 p.m. That evening, attention turns to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 1, starts with the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 at 1:30 p.m. ET. NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying takes place at 3:30 p.m., followed by Cup Series qualifying at 5 p.m. The evening closes with the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The culmination arrives on Sunday, November 2, with the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at 3 p.m. ET, the spotlight event featuring the top contenders battling for the title. Fans in attendance and viewers at home will witness a full weekend highlighted by the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series finale events—a showcase of high-speed competition and season-defining moments.
What Awaits at the Championship Finale
As the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race approaches, both seasoned champions and rising talents—including Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, J.J. Yeley, Casey Mears, and other prominent drivers—are set to compete for the coveted championship trophy. The stakes could not be higher, with each driver representing teams such as Team Penske, NY Racing Team, Garage 66, and renowned organizations like Hendrick Motorsports striving for the ultimate prize.
Beyond determining the season champion, this race at Phoenix Raceway stands to shape legacies and set the tone for the forthcoming season. As the engines roar in Avondale and millions tune in across the world, the event promises thrilling battles and moments that will be discussed well into next year’s playoff weekend. The sport’s future will be influenced by Sunday’s outcome, and anticipation is building as the date draws near for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race.
Four left in the fight.
This is the #Championship4 in the NASCAR Cup Series! pic.twitter.com/0UT1XbuNrZ
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 26, 2025
