It’s the final race of the 2024 season!  And the race to crown a champion for 2024.  Ryan Blaney is looking for back to back championships, Joey Logano is looking to join an elite group of drivers with a third championship, while William Byron and Tyler Reddick are looking to add NASCAR Cup Series champion to their list of accomplishments.

And it is Kyle Busch’s last chance to extend his streak.  He has won at least one race in every season for the past 19 seasons –  a NASCAR record.  If Busch can win the race on Sunday, he will extend that streak to 20 – every year he has been in the Cup Series.  The most winningest driver in NASCAR has not won a Cup Series race in over a year.

For this final race there is a full field of 40 drivers including seven time champion and Legacy Motor Club co-owner Jimmie Johnson.  It is the first time in seven years that the final race of the season has had a full field.

A rare weekend, the drivers have three sets of tires and a full 50 minutes of practice.

After some controversial action during the race at Martinsville last week, some severe penalties were handed down, an appeal has was lost, and some tempers have been ruffled.  NASCAR drivers are known for some long memories; will that affect the race this weekend??? Time will tell.

Jimmie Johnson is stopped on the track after getting loose.  He gets moving again after not hitting anything.

In the latter laps of the race, the sun is going to be a big issue…and possible excuse.

After a 50 minute practice session, Ryan Blaney topped the leaderboard with single and multiple laps times.

Joey Logano’s number 22 car failed inspection twice today and has lost his ability to choose his pit stall for the race.

Chad Finchum was the first driver on the track to make a qualifying run and posted a time of 28.148 seconds.

Jeb Burton did not make a qualifying run after an issue with the car.

Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick, and William Byron will move on to round two of qualifying from Group One.

Michael McDowell gets loose on the track during his qualifying run and still posted a time 27.255 seconds.

Turn one is becoming an issue for the drivers with several of them getting loose on the track. 

Josh Berry gets loose in turns one and he gets into the wall in a cloud of smoke.

Group two drivers Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, and Harrison Burton will be moving on to round two of qualifying.  Playoff driver Ryan Blaney fails to make the top five.

First on the track of the top 10 drivers is Tyler Reddick with a time of 26.842 seconds.

With a time of 26.718 seconds Martin Truex Jr puts his number 19 car on the pole for his final race as a full time driver.  Several of the drivers came over to congratulate Truex.

The starting lineup for the Cup Series championship race:
Martin Truex Jr
Joey Logano
Ross Chastain
Kyle Larson
Chase Elliott
Ty Gibbs
Christopher Bell
William Byron
Harrison Burton
Tyler Reddick
Austin Cindric
Chase Briscoe
Justin Haley
Denny Hamlin
Carson Hocevar

Alex Bowman
Ryan Blaney
John Hunter Nemechek
Erik Jones
Corey LaJoie
Noah Gragson
Daniel Hemric
Jimmie Johnson
Chris Buescher
Kyle Busch
Derek Kraus
Brad Keselowski
Zane Smith
Bubba Wallace
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Kaz Grala
Todd Gilliland
Ryan Preece
Daniel Suarez
Michael McDowell
Austin Dillon
JJ Yeley
Chad Finchum
Josh Berry
Jeb Burton

After multiple inspection issues, Jeb Burton will have to serve a stop and go penalty once the green flag drops.

Olympic swimming icon Michael Phelps is driving the pace car today to bring the field to the green flag.

Stage one is 60 laps, stage two is 125 laps, and stage three is 127 laps for a total of 312 laps around the one mile track.

In race start number 694, Martin Truex Jr brings the field down for the green flag for the final time as a full time driver with Joey Logano starting alongside.  Truex gets out in front for the lead as the drivers spread out five and six wide going into turn one.

Ty Gibbs brings out the first caution flag of the race on lap two when he gets into the wall hard.  Gibbs exits the car and walks on his own to the ambulance for the mandatory trip to the infield care center.

Martin Truex Jr brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 10 and goes side by side with Joey Logano before Logano takes the lead.

Lap 12, the top five are Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, and Chase Elliott.

Ty Gibbs is out of the race and Jeb Burton is one lap down after having to serve a penalty due to inspection issues.

Lap 15, Joey Logano has pulled out to a lead of over half a second on Martin Truex Jr; Christoher Bell, Ross Chastain, and William Byron round out the top five.

William Byron passes Ross Chastain for fourth.

The playoff drivers are – Joey Logano in first, William Byron in fourth, Tyler Reddick in sixth, and Ryan Blaney in 10th.

Lap 19, Joey Logano has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Martin Truex Jr; Christopher Bell, William Byron, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

These are the first laps Joey Logano has led since winning his championship in 2022.

Lap 25, Joey Logano has a near second and a half lead on Joey Logano; Christopher Bell, William Byron, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

In his final race as a full time driver, the drivers gave Martin Truex Jr a standing ovation during the driver’s meeting.  Truex is wearing a specially designed helmet that reflects his 21 year career as a Cup Series driver.

Lap 36, Joey Logano’s lead is down to under a second on Martin Truex Jr; Christopher Bell, William Byron, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.  There are 36 cars on the lead lap.

Looking for a third championship, Joey Logano leads the race with William Byron in fourth, Tyler Reddick in sixth, and Ryan Blaney in seventh.

Lap 41, Joey Logano has just a half second lead on Martin Truex Jr.

Lap 44, Joey Logano has a lead of over half a second on Martin Truex Jr; Christopher Bell, William Byron, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.  There are 35 cars on the lead lap with one driver out of the race.

Lap 52, Joey Logano’s lead is down to under half a second on Martin Truex Jr; Christopher Bell, William Byron, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.  Tyler Reddick and Ryan Blaney battle for sixth.  There are 33 cars on the lead lap.

The final race of the season, stage points do not matter to the playoff drivers…only which one of them is the closest to the front.  However, the points do count toward the final point standings.

Joey Logano wins stage one.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Joey Logano
Martin Truex Jr
Christopher Bell
William Byron
Chase Elliott
Ryan Blaney
Tyler Reddick
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Larson
Austin Cindric

Drivers come down pit road for service with Chase Elliott winning the race off of pit road.  Joey Logano loses four spots on pit road.

Corey LaJoie was caught speeding on pit road.

Coming to pit road, the pace car hit the barrels at the beginning of pit road in a too sharp of a turn.

NASCAR has red flagged the race to get the barrels repaired.  And the pace car driver has to move to a backup car!

With two of his cars in the championship four, Team Penske owner Roger Penske is at the track watching his drivers Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano battle for the championship.

The barrels are repaired and the cars are moving again under the caution flag. 

Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 72.  Chrisotpher Bell passes Elliott for the lead.

The top five are Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Denny Hamlin.  Tyler Reddick is in eighth place.

There are 34 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 75, Christopher Bell has a lead of over half a second on Chase Elliott; Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Joes Logano round out the top five.  Tyler Reddick is in ninth place and in a battle for the spot with Rookie of the Year winner Carson Hocevar.

Lap 80, Christopher Bell has a near one second lead on Chase Elliott; Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Joey Logano round out the top five.

Lap 85, Christopher Bell holds on on to a near one second lead on Chase Elliott; Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Joey Logano.

Lap 88, Christopher Bell now has a lead of over a second on Chase Elliott.  There are 33 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 92, Christopher Bell has a lead of over a second on Chase Elliott; Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Joey Logano round out the top five with Tyler Reddick in 10th place.

Martin Truex Jr reports that Joey Logano has been blocking him.  He tells the spotter to relay the message that he will npt allow it any further.

Lap 102, Christopher Bell has a lead of over a second and a half over Chase Elliott; Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Joey Logano round out the top five..  Tyler Reddick is back in 10th place.  There are 33 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 105, Ryan Blaney passes Chase Elliott for second.

Lap 106, Christopher Bell has pulled out to a two and a half second lead on Ryan Blaney.

Lap 115, Christopher Bell has a near three second lead on Ryan Blaney; Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Joey Logano round out the top five.

Lap 116, Denny Hamlin begins the cycle of green flag pit stops.

Joey Logano nearly hit Justin Haley as Haley came out of the pit box.

Lap 118, leader Christopher Bell meks his pit stop and gives the lead over to Kyle Larson.

The top eight drivers have yet to make their pit stops.

Justin Haley was charged with having an uncontrolled tire during his pit stop.

Chase Briscoe was caught speeding on pit road.

Lap 125, leader Kyle Larson makes his green flag pit stop and gives the lead over to Alex Bowman.

Lap 126, Alex Bowman comes down pit road and gives the lead over to Todd Gilliland.

Christopher Bell has retaken the lead of the race and is over one second out in front.

The top five are Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Todd Gilliland, William Byron, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.  Gilliland and Stenhouse have yet to make a pit stop.

Lap 137, Christopher Bell has a near two and a half second lead on Ryan Blaney; William Byron, Joey Logano, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.  Tyler Reddick is in ninth place.  There are 24 cars on the lead lap.

The jack man for Joey Logano’s car is not feeling well and the crew is making a personnel change.  The jack man from the number two team of Austin Cindric moves to the 22 crew to serve as the jack man.  The jack man from Harrison Burton’s crew takes over the jack duties for the number two crew.

Lap 143, Christopoher Bell holds a two second lead on Ryan Blaney; William Byron, Joey Logano, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

The playoff driver positions are: Ryan Blaney in second, William Byron in third, Joey Logano in fourth, and Tyler Reddick in 10th.

Lap 150, Christopher Bell holds a two second lead on Ryan Blaney; William Byron, Joey Logano, and Chase Elliott round out the top five with 23 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 152, Joey Logano and William Byron battle for third.

Joey Logano passes William Byron for third.

Lap 160, Ryan Blaney has closed the gap on leader Christopher Bell to just half a second; Joey Logano, William Byron, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.  Bell is in the middle of slower traffic.

There are just 20 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 166, Christopher Bell has just a half second lead on Ryan Blaney as Bell battles slower traffic; Joey Logano, William Byron, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five with 19 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 171, Ryan Blaney has closed the gap on leader Christopher Bell to just a quarter of a second.

With nine laps remaining in stage one, Christopher Bell and Ryan Blaney battle for the lead.

Lap 179, Ryan Blaney takes the lead; Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Four laps remain in stage two, Christopher Bell continues to battle with Ryan Blaney for the lead with traffic in front of them.

Ryan Blaney wins stage two.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Ryan Blaney
Christopher Bell
Joey Logano
William Byron
Denny Hamlin
Chris Buescher
Kyle Larson
Chase Elliott
Martin Truex Jr
Tyler Reddick

Drivers come down pit road for service with Christopher Bell winning the race off of pit road.

Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 195 with Ryan Blaney alongside.  Bell edges out in front.  Running the high line, Tyler Reddick moves up to fifth.

The top five are Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Tyler Reddick.

Teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano battle for second; Christopher Bell has a near one second lead.

Joey Logano gets around Ryan Blaney for second.

Lap 202, the top five are Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Tyler Reddick.

Lap 207, Christopher Bell has a one second lead on Joey Logano;  Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.

Late in the afternoon, parts of the track are already in the shadows.

Lap 210, Ty Gibbs remains the only driver out of the race with 23 cars on the lead lap.

There are 99 laps remaining in the race; all of the drivers still need to make one more pit stop to make it to the end of the race.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr gets into the wall but the track stays green.

Ryan Preece is slowed on the track but makes it to pit road and the track stays green.

Lap 227, Christopher Bell has a one second lead on Joey Logano; Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano battle for second.  Blaney has been reporting no grip and handling issues.

Just 80 laps remain in the race…and the season…Christopher Bell holds a one second lead on Joey Logano; Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Lap 234, Ryan Blaney passes Joey Logano for second.

Lap 236, Joey Logano and Christopher Bell begin the cycle of green flag pit stops.  Ryan Blaney is the new leader of the race.

Lap 237, leader Ryan Blaney makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to William Byron.

Lap 247, William Byron gives up the lead to make his green flag pit stop.  Kyle Larson is the new leader.

Zane Smith brings out the fourth caution flag when he gets into the wall on lap 251.

Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Tyler Reddic come down pit road for fresh tires.  William Byron is the new leader.

A total of 24 drivers took the wave around.

William Byron brings the field down for the green flag restart with just 54 laps remaining in the race.  William Byron and Christopher bell battle for the lead.  Coming up on the inside Joey Logano makes it three wide to take the lead.

The top five are Joey Logano, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, and Kyle Larson.

Kyle Larson Ryan Blaney, and Christopher Bell go three wide in a battle for second; Joey Logano is half a second out in front.

Zane Smith is out of the race.

Just 49 laps remain; Joey Logano is now one second out in front of William Byron; Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.  Tyler Reddick is in sixth place.

There are 22 cars on the lead lap.

Forty to go, Joey Logano has a lead of over a second and a half on William Byron; Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

With 34 laps to go, Joey Logano has a two second lead on William Byron; Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.  Tyler Reddick is in sixth place.

Thirty to go, William Byron has closed the gap to under two seconds on leader Joey Logano; Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

Just 25 laps remain in the 2024 season, Joey Logano has a 1.7 second lead on William Byron; less than two seconds back Ryan Blaney is in third with Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell rounding out the top five.

Ryan Blaney has caught William Byron and the two drivers battle for second.

Ryan Blaney takes second with 22 laps remaining in the race.

Nineteen laps to go, Ryan Blaney has closed the gap on Joey Logano to under two seconds.

Eighteen to go, Ryan Blaney is now less than a second and a half behind Joey Logano.

Sixteen to go, Ryan Blaney is less than one second behind teammate Joey Logano.

Thirteen to go, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney are separated by just over half a second; William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Chrisotpher Bell round out the top five.

Ten to go!  Joey Logano has half a second lead on Ryan Blaney; William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell round out the top five. The fourth playoff driver Tyler Reddick is in sixth place.

Seven to go, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney are separated by just a tenth of a second!

Just five laps to go, Joey Loagano is a third of a second in front of Ryan Blaney.

Three to go, Joey Logano has a quarter of a second lead on Ryan Blaney.

Joey Logano takes the white flag!

With a lead of less than half a second Joey Logano wins the race to become a three time champion.  He joins just nine other drivers in NASCAR’s history to win at least three championships. Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Sr, and Jimmie Johnson all have seven championships; Cale Yarborough, Jeff Gordon Lee Petty, Darrell Waltrip, and Tony Stewart have also earned multiple championships.

The unofficial results of the championship race in Phoenix:
Joey Logano
Ryan Blaney
William Byron
Kyle Larson
Christopher Bell
Tyler Reddick
Bubba Wallace
Chase Elliott
Chris Buescher
Daniel Suarez
Denny Hamlin
Noah Gragson
Austin Cindric
Alex Bowman
Brad Keselowski
Harrison Burton
Martin Truex Jr
Carson Hocevar
Ross Chastain
Todd Gilliland
Kyle Busch
Erik Jones
Daniel Hemric
Josh Berry
Derek Kraus
Jimmie Johnson
Austin Dillon
Justin Haley
Chase Briscoe
John Hunter Nemechek
Michael McDowell
Corey LaJoie
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Kaz Grala
JJ Yeley
Chad Finchum
Ryan Preece
Jeb Burton
Zane Smith
Ty Gibbs

With the end of the race…and the season…a streak that has been 19 years in the making comes to an end with Kyle Busch’s 21st place finish.  Busch had won at least one race every year in the past 19 seasons.  It has now been over a year since Kyle Busch crossed the finish line first.