Dale Earnhardt Jr NASCAR prediction for the Cup Series championship points to William Byron as the favorite to capture the 2025 title, following Byron’s powerful performance in recent races. With the Championship 4 set and Team Penske not included, this year’s NASCAR finale at Phoenix is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, giving several top contenders a serious shot at victory.
An Open Field Sets the Stage in Phoenix
As the NASCAR Cup Series heads into its championship race at Phoenix Raceway, the absence of Team Penske among the top contenders has left the door wide open. Dale Earnhardt Jr., during a recent episode of his “Dale Jr. Download,” expressed the prevailing sense of unpredictability as the field enters the final showdown. Among the drivers still in contention—Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, William Byron, and Kyle Larson—Earnhardt Jr. highlighted how evenly matched they appear.
He made his preference clear when stating,
“I think Byron’s gonna win the championship,”
according to Earnhardt Jr. This prediction arrives after Byron outpaced the competition at Martinsville Speedway, where he led 304 laps and clinched victory, outdueling Ryan Blaney to secure his place in the Championship 4. Jeff Gordon, a respected figure in NASCAR, characterized Byron’s drive at Martinsville as a pivotal moment in his career.
Jeff Gordon described Byron’s recent success, stating,
“To me, William, I believe, had the race of his career today,”
Jeff Gordon, via John Newby of Savage Ventures. Gordon elaborated on Byron’s mastery during the final restart and praised the way he defended against Blaney, saying,
“And we saw how strong the 12 was on the outside of some of those restarts, so I was anticipating the 12 giving them a heck of a battle, but I was also expecting him to give him the bumper, and William didn’t give him the chance to do that.”
Byron’s calculated approach at Martinsville set the stage for a potentially career-defining weekend at Phoenix.
Byron’s Ongoing Pursuit of a Title
William Byron arrives in Phoenix for his third consecutive appearance in the Championship 4. In both previous attempts, he finished in third place, marking him as a consistent presence among the frontrunners. Byron is determined to seize the moment and reach the top of the podium.
Speaking about the pressure and his approach, Byron shared,
“I have a friend of mine that told me this week, he said, ‘No moment has ever been too big for you.’ As a competitor, you don’t really realize that, like, you only view it in your eyes as every opportunity. You only kind of look at it as missed opportunities, things you could get better at. Yeah, I feel like this week, this weekend, it’s just trying to maximize the chance you have in front of you ’cause you never know when the next one’s going to come. Even though you think you’re going to be there all these times, you never know,”
William Byron, NASCAR Driver. He emphasized giving everything on the racetrack, adding,
“You want to give everything you can to it. I felt good coming into here that I had given everything. Once you get in between the lines, in between the walls, you’re going to give everything. You’ve just got to go out there and do your thing,”
William Byron, NASCAR Driver.
What Makes Earnhardt Jr.’s Prediction Stand Out
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s prediction gains significance as it comes not only from his experience behind the wheel but also as a close observer of the sport’s evolving landscape. By naming Byron over notable peers like Larson, Hamlin, and Briscoe, Earnhardt signals confidence in Byron’s current momentum and ability, particularly his composure during high-stakes finales. Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, and recent events at Martinsville Speedway all feed into a sense that Byron is ready to thrive at Phoenix.
The upcoming championship includes Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin, both eager to add to their legacies, while Ryan Blaney and Chase Briscoe also remain threats. However, Byron’s blend of steady performance and his drive at Martinsville provide him with a mental and competitive edge heading into the decisive race.
Championship Hopes Rest on Phoenix Performance
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship will be determined at Phoenix, with the title contenders prepared for a fierce final contest. A win for William Byron would not only fulfill Dale Earnhardt Jr’s high-profile NASCAR prediction but also mark Byron’s first career Cup championship after back-to-back near-misses. With endorsements from racing legends and an evident hunger to maximize every opportunity, Byron heads into the last race of the season as the driver to watch. The result at Phoenix will showcase whether Byron can convert his momentum and determination into a defining championship victory.
