By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net
With the final week of the NASCAR season at hand, the manufacturers are talking and here is news from all three going into Phoenix
Ford Performance
| LOGANO IN SIXTH CHAMPIONSHIP 4Joey Logano is making his sixth appearance in the Championship 4 since the format was introduced in 2014—all coming in even years (2014, ‘16, ‘18, ‘20, ‘22, and ‘24). The two-time Cup Series champion aims to become the 10th driver to win at least three titles, joining legends like Tony Stewart, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, David Pearson, and Lee Petty; four-time champion Jeff Gordon; and seven-time titleholders Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, and Richard Petty. Logano secured his spot in the Championship 4 by winning the Round of 8 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and has three points victories this year (Nashville, Atlanta-2, and Las Vegas-2), plus a triumph in the All-Star Race. |
 BLANEY LOOKING TO GO BACK-TO-BACKRyan Blaney was a man on a mission last weekend at Martinsville Speedway, and as a result, he’ll defend his 2023 championship on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway after winning the Xfinity 500 in Martinsville for a second straight year. This will be Blaney’s second time in the Championship 4 and he’s trying to become the first driver since Jimmie Johnson to win back-to-back Cup titles (2006-10). Another title would also make him the 18th driver in NASCAR history to win two or more. |
 LOGANO AT PHOENIX RACEWAYJoey Logano has made 31 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Phoenix Raceway, finishing in the top 10 in over half of them. He has three wins (2016-2, 2020-1, 2022-2), along with eight top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. Those three victories tie Phoenix with Michigan, Talladega, and Kansas for second on Logano’s personal-best list, following his fourth career win at Las Vegas a few weeks ago. |
 BLANEY AT PHOENIX RACEWAYThis will be Ryan Blaney’s 18th career NASCAR Cup Series start at Phoenix Raceway, and while he’s still looking for his first win, there has been consistent success. It starts with the fact that he has three poles, which is a personal best for any track on the circuit. He also comes into the race with a streak of six straight finishes of fifth or betting, including three consecutive runner-up finishes during the 2022-23 seasons. Blaney finished second a year ago in earning his first series title and was fifth earlier this year when Phoenix hosted for the first time in March. |
Team Chevy
TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10: POS. DRIVER2nd – Chase Elliott3rd – Kyle Larson6th – William Byron7th – Austin Dillon8th – Ross Chastain WITH 35 NASCAR CUP SERIES RACES COMPLETE:Wins: 15Poles: 10Top-Five Finishes: 69Top-10 Finishes: 143Stage Wins: 23 |
| · For the second time in his career, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron will have the opportunity to race for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship. In a race all the way to the checkered flag, Byron drove his No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1 to a sixth-place result. Ending the race with a four-point advantage over the playoff cutline, Byron took the fourth and final position in the Championship Four. · Despite a valiant effort all race long, Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott and Kyle came just short of a ticket into the Championship Four – ultimately driving their Camaro ZL1’s to a second and third-place finish, respectively, in the Round of Eight elimination race at Martinsville Speedway. While each endured challenges throughout the race, the pair of teammates proved to be contenders throughout the 500-lap event – collectively leading 200 laps en route to their podium finishes. · Chevrolet will have the opportunity to race for a driver championship in all three NASCAR national series next weekend, with Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill and JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier advancing to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship four, and CR7 Motorsports’ Grant Enfinger and McAnally Hilgemann Racing’s Christian Eckes racing for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship. |
Team Toyota
NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS | NCTS
Toyota drivers to battle for titles at Phoenix … Toyota drivers will be present in each of the three national series championship battles this weekend in Phoenix. Tyler Reddick, who clinched his way into the Championship 4 with a victory in Homestead, makes his first appearance in the Cup Series title race on Sunday and the maiden appearance for 23XI Racing. In the Truck Series, Corey Heim is back in the championship race for the second straight season in his quest to win his first title with TRICON Garage. Toyota will also be represented in the owner’s championship race in the Xfinity Series by the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) team who’s coming off a victory by Aric Almirola in Martinsville last weekend.
One last time for Truex … For the final time this Sunday, Martin Truex Jr. will pilot the No. 19 Camry XSE with JGR as he closes his full-time Cup Series career. Truex will make his 469th Cup Series start with Toyota this weekend, 215 of those with JGR, at Phoenix where he’s made 37 previous starts in his Cup Series career, including a victory in 2021. Entering the weekend, Truex has 34 career wins, 147 top-fives and 291 top-10s to go along with 24 career poles in the Cup Series.
Bell seeks Phoenix sweep … The Phoenix Spring race was a strong one for Team Toyota, ending with a victory by Christopher Bell. The Oklahoma native led 50 laps, including the final 41, on his way to the win, which was his first of three so far in the 2024 season. A win this weekend would give Bell the season sweep at Phoenix and his 10th career Cup Series victory.