Ryan Blaney wins Phoenix race in a dramatic and hard-fought NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, where Kyle Larson secured the Cup title despite not leading a single lap, edging out fellow contenders Denny Hamlin, William Byron, and Chase Briscoe. The intense finish saw Brad Keselowski claim second behind Blaney, while Larson’s smart strategic decisions allowed him to clinch his second career Cup championship and give team owner Rick Hendrick a 15th title in the top division.
Late-Race Drama Shakes Up Championship Hopes
As the scheduled 312 laps at Phoenix wound down, Denny Hamlin appeared on track for his first NASCAR Cup title after 20 seasons, controlling the lead by nearly three seconds ahead of Byron in the late stages. Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota ran impressively, leading seven different times for a total of 207 laps. However, a late Turn 3 crash involving William Byron on Lap 310 changed everything, prompting a pivotal caution.
The resulting pit strategy decisions under caution would flip the race script. Cliff Daniels, crew chief for Kyle Larson, opted for two right-side tires for the second consecutive stop. Hamlin chose four fresh tires, pitting from the lead, but several drivers ahead—including Brad Keselowski, Ryan Preece, and Alex Bowman—stayed out. Blaney, Larson, Joey Logano, Josh Berry, Kyle Busch, and Chase Elliott all took two right-side tires, putting Hamlin in tenth position for the overtime restart, while Larson lined up five spots ahead in fifth.
Strategic Moves on Pit Road Set Up Larson’s Title
The overtime restart saw a flurry of action as the top contenders battled on mixed tire strategies. From the outside lane, Kyle Larson surged forward and was able to keep a gap between his Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet and Hamlin’s Camry. On the final lap, Hamlin lost momentum at the bottom of Turns 1 and 2, falling short as Larson held off the challengers to lock up the championship.
Ryan Blaney edged Brad Keselowski by just 0.097 seconds at the finish line, capturing his first-ever win at Phoenix after coming close in previous years. Meanwhile, Hamlin ultimately finished sixth, his hopes for a first series championship dashed once again despite a dominating performance much of the day.
Winners’ Reactions: Triumph, Relief, and Disbelief
Kyle Larson expressed his disbelief at winning a championship on a day when he never led a lap, calling the result “unbelievable” and crediting his Hendrick Motorsports team for their resilience and strategy.
“Like, we didn’t lead a lap today. Somehow won the championship. I mean, really, I’m just speechless. I can’t believe it. We had an average car at best.”
— Kyle Larson, NASCAR Driver
Larson recounted his team’s crucial pit stop and overtime strategy:
“We had the right front go down (earlier), lost a lap,”
Larson said.
“Got saved by the caution. Did the wave-around. Was really bad that run. We took two tires.… It had a lot more grip than I anticipated. We got lucky with the final caution. I was really hoping we were going to take two again.”
He added:
“Again, just unbelievable. I cannot believe it. This is insane.”
— Kyle Larson, NASCAR Driver
Team owner Rick Hendrick celebrated his 15th Cup Series title, underlining the ongoing success of Hendrick Motorsports. Cliff Daniels’s strategic mindset on pit road played an essential role during critical moments, keeping his team in contention through adversity and motivating Larson throughout the race.
Hamlin’s Heartbreak After a Near-Perfect Performance
Denny Hamlin and his Joe Gibbs Racing team arrived at Phoenix prepared for every challenge, recovering from both a balky clutch and a flat left-rear tire after claiming victory in the second stage. Despite these hurdles, Hamlin continued to battle, keeping the car out front for the majority of the day. Yet, the late caution and pit cycle knocked him out of contention for the championship, making it his fifth time losing the title under the elimination format.
The emotional toll was evident as Hamlin reflected on the missed opportunity:
“Golly, in this moment I never want to race a car ever again,”
— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
“I mean, my fun meter is pegged.”
— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Hamlin acknowledged that the team delivered a top-tier car, stating he did everything possible to respond to the race’s developments, but the final moments did not fall in his favor.
Blaney’s Phoenix Victory Caps Off His Season
While Larson’s Cup win dominated headlines, Blaney’s victory on Sunday was notable for its timing and execution. The win marked the 17th of his career, his fourth this season, and his first at Phoenix, rewarding his perseverance after previous near misses at the track. In 2023, Blaney’s second-place finish at Phoenix earned him his first series championship. This time, he cemented a strong season with a narrow win, edging Keselowski by less than a tenth of a second.
“It’s just cool to end it on a good note,”
— Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Driver
Blaney credited his fast Team Penske Ford and the late-race calls that kept him at the front, explaining,
“Those guys were just really good, and it took my car a while to come in, but it was a really good call for two (tires) there and keeping track position. I got a decent restart, and I was able to kind of roll the bottom in (Turns) 3 and 4 and eke the 6 (Keselowski) out at the line.”
— Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Driver
Byron’s Crash Alters Fate; Other Driver Highlights
William Byron, who earlier won the first stage and led 52 laps, crashed hard into the Turn 3 wall in the final laps, ending his race in 33rd position. Byron expressed disappointment, particularly for his teammate Denny Hamlin, who lost the chance to challenge for the title due to the accident.
“I’m just super bummed that it was a caution, obviously,”
— William Byron, NASCAR Driver
“I felt something funny off of two, thought it might be a flat. I thought at the time if it’s left rear, you can kind of get back. It just went straight into (Turn) 3. Laid down on the right rear, went straight (into the wall). I hate that.”
— William Byron, NASCAR Driver
Brad Keselowski finished second, Joey Logano fourth, and Kyle Busch fifth in a field that saw nine cautions covering 65 laps. Josh Berry, Michael McDowell, Ryan Preece, Chase Elliott, and Christopher Bell rounded out the top 10. Chase Briscoe, after battling two flat tires and restarting 15th in overtime, finished 18th.
What Comes Next Following a Dramatic Phoenix Finale
The Ryan Blaney wins Phoenix race outcome ensures a significant shake-up in the season’s closing narrative, with Kyle Larson emerging as NASCAR Cup Series champion for the second time. Hendrick Motorsports collects its 15th championship, further reinforcing its status as a leading force in the sport. The dramatic late-race strategy, tire calls, and heartbreak for Hamlin offer lessons that teams and drivers will carry into next season as the series looks ahead to new rivalries, evolving competition, and the continual pursuit of racing glory. With the 2023 season concluded, attention now turns to the offseason and what changes teams like Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, and Team Penske may pursue in search of future victories and redemption.
