Points Pay: Close Cup battle to wrap up in Phoenix
AVONDALE, ARIZ. — Six NASCAR Cup Series teams are focused on a key battle for their bottom line Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.
Money from the year-end points fund will go to the top 25 in Cup Series owner points.
The difference in money, between 25th and 26th is significant (NASCAR doesn’t disclose the exact amount). The difference in points, between 25th and 26th, is just three points.
The maximum amount of points one can make up in a Cup Series race is 59. Here are the teams within that range:
23. Team Penske 2/Cindric 624 (+42)
24. SHR 41/Preece 614 (+32)
25. Kaulig 31/Haley 585 (+3)
26. Spire 7/LaJoie 582 (-3)
27. LMC 43/E. Jones 557 (-28)
28. FRM 38/Gilliland 539 (-46)
The focus point is on 25th-27th. Erik Jones qualified seventh while Corey LaJoie and Justin Haley qualified 29th and 35th.
As is, before factoring in presumptive stage points, that would put the No. 7 team in the top-25 with the No. 43 team.
Factoring presumptive points in for stage one, and the No. 43 team would be in the top-25 by one point over the No. 7 team.
The Season Finale 500 NASCAR Cup Series Championship race goes green at Phoenix Raceway just after 3 p.m. ET. The broadcast is on NBC/Peacock, MRN affiliates and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com