2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 set
The Championship 4 grid is set for the NASCAR Cup Series following the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Sunday.
Denny Hamlin
Hamlin was the first driver to lock into the Championship 4 via his victory at Las Vegas to open the Round of 8.
This year is Hamlin’s fifth appearance in the Championship 4 and first in the Next Gen era of the Cup Series, with his last appearance coming in 2021.
“I’m confident in the speed that we’ll have next week,” Hamlin said after his early exit from Martinsville with engine issues. “I’m really confident in what this team is going to bring next week and we’ll bring our best, hopefully it lasts.”
Chase Briscoe
Briscoe’s victory at Talladega last week ensured his first Championship 4 appearance in the Cup Series.
“I’m excited to go to Phoenix. It’s a place I feel good about,” Briscoe said after his Talladega victory. “I’m sure it will be emotional. Just having my family there and all those things would be emotional.
“I’m emotional in general. Yeah, it will be a special day regardless.”
William Byron
Despite being below the cutline throughout the Round of 8, Byron’s fiery, freak crash at Las Vegas and last lap spin at Talladega were forgiven with his dominating win at Martinsville to clinch a playoff berth Sunday.
“Things have a way of working out, God really tests your resilience a lot of times,” Byron said. “We’ve been tested. Just unbelievable. I’m out of breath.
“Thank you, fans, for coming out. Bad-ass crowd. I watched my first NASCAR race up there just before start/finish line. Man, I am just so thankful, excited to see my family, just celebrate this one. We obviously go to Phoenix. Just go try to kick ass there.”
Byron was the regular season champion. 2025 is the third-straight season Byron will be a part of the Championship 4.
Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson was the lone driver to clinch a playoff berth via points instead of a victory in the Round of 8.
Larson will race as a Championship 4 contender next week for the third time in the last five years.
“Glad we can give Mr. H an opportunity next week,” Larson said. “Hopefully one of us can win it. I’m proud of everybody at Hendrick Motorsports.
“I feel like we’ve been progressing so much throughout the Playoffs. To put two cars in the Championship 4 is awesome.”
The Hendrick Motorsports driver is the only past champion among the Championship 4.
Outlook
The championship race at Phoenix Raceway is scheduled for next Sunday, Nov. 2, at 3 p.m. ET (NBC/MRN).
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Dominic Aragon View All
Dominic Aragon is currently the editor-in-chief for The Racing Experts.
From Grants, New Mexico, USA, Aragon started watching NASCAR in 2004 and has been covering the sport since 2009. Aragon is a 2012 graduate of Grants High School and a May 2016 graduate of the University of New Mexico with a B.A. in Mass Communications & Journalism. Aragon has worked in local and national media, as a musician, and an educator. He is co-author of the 2024 book "All of It: Daytona 500 Champion Tells the Rest of the Story" with racer Geoff Bodine.
Aragon, his wife Feliz, and son Christopher currently reside in Grants, New Mexico, USA.
You can reach Dominic at daragon@theracingexperts.net.
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