NASCAR
Is there a Favorite Championship 4 Driver for the 2023 Bill France Cup?
In mere days one of four drivers will become the newest owner of the greatest prize in American motorsports–the Bill France Cup. The youngest ever Championship 4 will duke it out in the Valley of the Sun for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series title. Is there any favorite among Larson, Bell, Blaney, or Byron? Here’s a look at each contender’s strengths and weaknesses heading into Championship Weekend 2023.
Kyle Larson
The oldest and most experienced of the Championship 4, Kyle Larson is the only driver who’s been here and done that before. The 31-year-old won the Cup Series title just two years ago, and is gunning to become a two-time champion. Larson’s Phoenix fate has been secured the longest, after winning the Round of 8 opener at Las Vegas. That day was the 5’s fourth win of 2023, and has given this team ample preparation time. Already knowing how to get the job done under this format and at this track, Larson has sky-high confidence.
“I’m excited to go to Phoenix and hopefully have a good run,” Larson said. “We were okay there last year from what I remember. We were decent on the long run and not great on the short run. In the spring, we were good on the short run and not very good on the long run, so I don’t know what we will have going on there. Regardless, we’ve had speed this season. We are in the final four, so we’ve got a shot at the Championship.”
On raw speed the 5 should be at or very near the top of the charts. Larson’s mantra this season has very much been checkers or wreckers though, with eight DNFs in addition to the four victories. Nowhere was this dichotomy more evident than Homestead two weeks ago. Larson was lights-out fast, only to overdrive pit entry and slam into the sand barrels, ending his day.
Phoenix Raceway has been a very solid track for Larson in recent history. Since the 2021 triumph, he’s been 34th, ninth, and fourth. Back in March the 5 led a race-high 201 laps, only to lose out in a late restart. If Sunday comes down to a long run, Larson should be the one to beat. 2021 also showed his short run strength though, when his pit crew came in clutch. If the 5 remains mistake-free, Larson could become the 18th multi-time Cup Series champion.
Christopher Bell
The lone representative from Joe Gibbs Racing for a second-straight year is Christopher Bell. Driver 20 has seen a very mixed-results season to put it bluntly. After winning Bristol Dirt in April, Bell did not see another top-five until August. Once the postseason began though, the 20 became red hot. A week after being painstakingly close to Larson’s bumper at Las Vegas, Bell won his way into Phoenix at Homestead. No longer new to Championship 4 pressure or expectations, the second time could be the charm for Bell.
“The opportunity in front of me to become a Cup Series champion is the opportunity every racecar driver dreams of,” Bell said. “I can’t wait to get out there and enjoy the moment and try and make it happen. I feel like Phoenix is one of my best tracks on the schedule, it’s a place I know we can go out and win.”
Bell’s 2022 Championship 4 effort was made through clutch victories. 2023 has been an entirely different set of circumstances. Following Bristol Dirt, Bell hardly fell out of the top-five in points all season long. This elite consistency has Bell with one of the best average finishes of anyone.
When looking at his Phoenix stats though, there is a bit to be desired. The 20 has a best desert result of sixth, coming in March. Bell should be a front runner all race long on Sunday, but him being able to gain maximum track position is still in question. Bell has won big with the clutch factor four times now in the past two years, so another triumph is certainly in the cards.
Ryan Blaney
Entering Phoenix with the hottest hand and peak momentum is Ryan Blaney. The Martinsville winner was the class of the field on the half-mile a week ago, and looks to be as dominant again. Much like his Penske teammate a year ago, Blaney cannot be counted out of an upset Phoenix triumph. Coming to life in the Playoffs’ second half, Blaney believes this team’s ceiling is the championship stage.
“Even coming in like we did to the Playoffs, like not having a lot of Playoff points, stuff like that, then out-performing people, right” Blaney said. “Just doing a good job, executing really well. That’s all you can ask for.”
“Yeah, I mean, all you want is a shot at a championship. You get your shot when the Playoffs start, if you make them. Okay, you have a shot. But then your real shot is if you get to Phoenix, right?”
“Yeah, it’s just nice to have an opportunity to actually race for a championship. So hopefully we can maximize the weekend. We’ll just see. I’m excited for it. It’s going to be fun.”
“It’s definitely nice to get to Phoenix, right? I think this is my fifth Round of 8 and we haven’t been there yet. I had four before this; I didn’t get to the Final 4. It’s nice to accomplish that. Now you have a chance to race for a championship. Hopefully you do your best next week.”
“It’s nice to always kind of take the next step in your career. I think this is a good next step for our group and me personally. Hopefully we can make the most of it.”
Phoenix Raceway has fit Ryan Blaney like a glove in recent memory. The last two trips to Arizona have ended with the No. 12 in second, including leading 109 laps a season ago. That day the 12 was in hot pursuit of contending teammate Joey Logano, closely following the 22 to the checkers. Blaney entered Martinsville winless and with the best average finish, his stats over the last three years at Phoenix mirror that. Expect the 12 to be a thorn in his rivals’ side all race long, perhaps being out front this time when it matters the most.
William Byron
Six years in the making, William Byron’s breakout season is here and could end with the biggest trophy. The Hendrick 24 has a series-best six wins in 2023, capping off a great year with his first Championship 4 appearance. Where Larson has faltered at times, the 24 has remained as steady and consistent as anyone. A worst Playoff result of 15th only further punctuates the run put together by this team. Byron eagerly awaits a shot at delivering Rick Hendrick his 15th Cup Series title.
“I wanted this opportunity bad and I wanted it really bad for our team,” Byron said. “We have all worked so hard for the chance to run for a championship and we have as good of a chance as anyone. We’ve worked hard this week to get ready between going over data, film and time at the Chevy sim. We’ve done all we can to prepare here before we get to Phoenix. Being able to have a full 50-minute practice session is nice though, so we can really work on some changes and be even more prepared for Sunday. It will be about maximizing every chance we have and I am confident that we will be at our best on Sunday.”
When Larson stumbled in overtime at Phoenix in March, it was William Byron pouncing to take the checkers. That win was a mere sampling of the speed and execution shown by this team week after week, with very few weak spots. Martinsville a week ago was a moment of adversity for Byron though, but he battled through to remain alive in the title hunt. The 24 should have an excellent chance at a Phoenix sweep and a seventh checkered flag of the season.
312 laps on Sunday is all that separates one of these four drivers from being NASCAR’s premier 2023 champion. The Cup Series Championship race will go green at 3:00 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Each of these Championship 4 combatants has a unique path to the Bill France Cup, follow along to see which one ends on top.
Written by Peter Stratta
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