5 KYLE LARSON

Age: 31 (July 31, 1992)

Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels

Standings: 1st – Tied

No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media at the Phoenix Raceway media center on Friday, Nov. 3, following NASCAR Cup Series practice.

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media at the Phoenix Raceway media center on Saturday, Nov. 4, following NASCAR Cup Series qualifying.

PUSHING THROUGH THE PLAYOFFS: Kyle Larson won two of the three opening round races during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs (the Round of 16 at Darlington Raceway and the Round of 8 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway). With his victory at Vegas, the driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was the first to lock into this year’s Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. In the playoffs, he has the best average running position (7.62) and most laps run in the top five (1,594). Larson won the Cup Series championship in 2021 in his only year transferring to the final round (before 2023). Should he win the 2023 title, Larson would become the 18th driver to win multiple Cup Series championships.

MOVEMENT FROM MARTINSVILLE: In the second-to-last race of the season, Larson led the way for the Hendrick Motorsports quartet at Martinsville Speedway. He started from the fifth position and just missed out on stage points in the opening 130 laps. Crew chief Cliff Daniels made a strategy call on lap 325 for fuel only that helped his driver gain track position to restart from the top six. Over the closing 168-lap green-flag run, Larson maintained a position in the top 10, ultimately finishing sixth for his 17th top-10 finish of the season. The result gives Larson an average finish of 3.00 in the last three Martinsville races.

CHAMPIONSHIP 4: This weekend, the 31-year-old Larson will battle for the championship against Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney and Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron. The Elk Grove, California, driver is the only previously crowned Cup Series champion as he seeks his second claim of the sport’s ultimate title. In comparison to Larson’s championship competitors, he proves to be the most seasoned driver of the four in almost every Cup Series career statistical category with the most starts (330), poles (16), wins (23), runner-up finishes (34), top-five finishes (103), top-10s (163), stage wins (50) and laps led (7,556). When ranking the Championship 4 drivers through 35 starts this season, Larson leads the pack in laps led (1,127) and is tied with Byron for most top fives (14) and stage wins (eight). He also holds the second-most wins (four), behind Byron (six). Ranked amongst the Championship 4 through nine races in the playoffs, Larson has led the most laps (503), earned the most stage wins (five) and is tied for the most wins (two).

PUT TO THE TEST IN PHOENIX: Larson (2021) and Byron (2023) are the only drivers in the Championship 4 to have visited victory lane at Phoenix in the Cup Series. In the spring, the No. 5 HendrickCars.com driver won the pole position and led a race-high 201 laps en route to his seventh top-five finish at Phoenix. Larson has finished in the top 10 in eight of the last nine races at the Avondale, Arizona, facility. The 1-mile venue is tied with four other tracks for his most top-five finishes (seven) and is in a three-way tie for his most top 10s (11) by track. In the Next Gen era (since 2022), Larson ranks second in laps led (203) and laps run in the top five (585) at Phoenix.

IN 2023: This season, Larson has four victories (April wins at Richmond Raceway and Martinsville, a September triumph at Darlington and an October win at Las Vegas). He also won in the series’ historic return to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the All-Star Race. Larson has led the most laps of all drivers (1,127) and is in a three-way tie along with teammate Byron for the most top-five finishes this season (14). He is in a four-way tie for the fourth-most top-10 finishes (17), ranks third for the most laps run in the top five (3,778), second for most laps run in the top 10 (5,613) and has the third-best average running position (10.97).

TITLE TOWN FLASHBACK: In the 2021 Cup Series championship race, Larson won the pole position and led a race-high 107 laps. However, when a caution came out with 30 laps to go, he was running fourth among the four title-eligible drivers. When the lights were the brightest, the No. 5 HendrickCars.com pit crew delivered with a stellar four tires and fuel stop that launched Larson to the lead for what would be the last restart of the race. Larson led the final 28 laps to score the 14th championship for Hendrick Motorsports and the first for himself and Daniels (as a crew chief). The No. 5 crew chief was also part of the 2016 championship-winning No. 48 team as a race engineer for Jimmie Johnson.

FOUR TIRES FAST: Going into the last race of the season, the No. 5 HendrickCars.com pit crew has the second-fastest average four-tire pit stop time of 11.071 seconds. The team’s five-man pit crew consists of Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer).

WIN A CHEVROLET COLORADO Z71: Want to drive Larson’s 2023 Chevrolet Colorado truck? One lucky winner will win his ride. Fans can donate now to enter a drawing for a chance to take home the Z71 Crew Cab 4WD package with custom features and styling. This special sweepstakes raises funding for the Kyle Larson Foundation’s “DRIVE FOR 5” campaign that supports youth, families and communities in need. The campaign is nearing its fundraising goal of $500,000. Click here to check out this sweet custom ride and enter to win today. The drawing closes on Sunday, Dec. 3, and the winner will be chosen on Monday, Dec. 11.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT

Age: 27 (Nov. 28, 1995)

Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia

Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia

Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

Standings: 17th

No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

WINNING MOMENT: Chase Elliott has one win at Phoenix Raceway, which he captured in the 2020 season finale to secure his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. The five-time National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver started the race at the rear of the field and maneuvered his way to the front, leading a race-high 153 laps en route to the victory.

PHOENIX 411: The driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will make his 15th Phoenix Cup Series start this Sunday. In his previous 14 races at the track, he’s amassed one win, five top-five finishes and eight top-10s. Elliott has paced the field for 546 laps at the 1-mile oval, which is his second-most on active tracks and places him with the third-most laps led among current Cup drivers at the track since the start of stage racing in 2017. Additionally, the 2020 Cup champion’s average start of 5.57 at the desert oval is his second-best on active tracks with more than two starts, only trailing the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course (4.67).

EVERY MILE A MEMORY: In 55 Cup starts on tracks measuring 1 to 1.37 miles in length (Darlington Raceway, Dover Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix and WWT Raceway), Elliott has four wins. His first came at Dover in 2018 and was followed by his championship-winning performance at Phoenix in 2020. His two most recent victories came last season at Dover and Nashville. Accompanying his wins are 22 top-five finishes, 29 top-10s and 1,246 laps led across those starts on tracks in this range.

GUSTAFSON AT PHOENIX: On Sunday, Alan Gustafson will call his 38th Phoenix race as a Cup Series crew chief. In his previous 37 starts there, the veteran team leader has collected four wins via four different drivers (Kyle Busch in 2005, Mark Martin in 2009, Jeff Gordon in 2011 and Elliott in 2020). He is tied with Hendrick Motorsports vice president of competition Chad Knaus for the second-most victories by a crew chief at Phoenix. Gustafson has also tallied 12 top-five results, 24 top-10s and 977 laps led. In his most recent race at the track, working with fill-in driver Josh Berry, the Ormond Beach, Florida, native led the No. 9 team to a 10th-place result.

PIT STOP POWER: With one race remaining in the 2023 season, the No. 9 pit crew holds the ninth-fastest average four-tire pit stop time of 11.237 seconds. In two races this season, the over-the-wall squad had the fastest four-tire pit stop in the field, most recently laying down a time of 9.409 seconds at Texas Motor Speedway in September. The 2021 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew award-winning group is comprised of Chad Avrit (rear-tire changer), Jared Erspamer (tire carrier), John Gianninoto (fueler), Nick O’Dell (front-tire changer) and T.J. Semke (jackman).

HEADING HOME: Gianninoto will compete in front of his home-track crowd at Phoenix on Sunday. The Tucson, Arizona, native graduated with honors from Catalina Foothills High School and went on to play as an offensive lineman for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2006 – earning his first letter in 2007 and becoming a team captain in 2010. In 2012, he participated in the NFL’s Carolina Panthers training camp before signing with Hendrick Motorsports that September. Gianninoto set a Guinness World Record in 2018, teaming with Sunoco for the most vehicles refueled by an individual in one hour (148).

GET UP AND GO: NAPA Auto Parts is on board the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the season finale this weekend at Phoenix. The Atlanta-based company has been Elliott’s primary partner for eight of his 14 Cup starts at the desert oval, including his 2020 victory. This season marks NAPA’s 10th year partnering with the Dawsonville, Georgia, native dating back to his first season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Get a closer look at the 2023 paint scheme here.

24 WILLIAM BYRON

Age: 25 (Nov. 29, 1997)

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle

Standings: 1st – Tied

No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media at the Phoenix Raceway media center on Friday, Nov. 3, following NASCAR Cup Series practice.

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media at the Phoenix Raceway media center on Saturday, Nov. 4, following NASCAR Cup Series qualifying.

CHAMP 4 BOUND: For the first time in his NASCAR Cup Series career, William Byron has earned a spot in the Championship 4 for the sport’s season finale at Phoenix Raceway. The No. 24 team rallied to secure enough points at Martinsville Speedway to advance through the Round of 8. Entering as the youngest competitor of the final four, Byron won the most recent race at Phoenix on March 12. The driver who won on that same date went on to win the championship in three of the prior four times, including twice by Hendrick Motorsports drivers (Jeff Gordon in 1995 and Jimmie Johnson in 2006). If Byron were to win this weekend, he would become only the sixth driver to win a championship in his first Championship 4 appearance. The 25-year-old would also be the fourth-youngest Cup champion of all time.

CAREER SEASON: Heading into the season finale for the Cup Series playoffs, Byron continues to add to his already impressive 2023 stats. After 35 races, Byron leads the series in wins (six), average finishing position (11.17) and top-10 finishes (20). He is tied for the most top-five finishes with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson (14) and is in a three-way tie along with Larson for the most stage wins (eight) this season. Byron has also led a single-season career-best 921 laps, which is the third-most in the series. In addition, he ranks second for the season in average running position (10.37), laps run in the top five (3,784) and third for laps run in the top 10 (5,387). In the playoffs, his average finish (6.33) is the fifth-best mark in the elimination-style postseason (first started in 2014).

SIMILAR IN SIZE: This Sunday’s race at Phoenix will mark Byron’s 43rd start on tracks 1 to 1.37 miles in length (Darlington Raceway, Dover Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix and WWT Raceway). In his previous 42 starts, he has collected one pole award, two wins (2023 victories at Darlington and Phoenix), nine top-five finishes, 18 top-10s and led 440 laps.

VENTURING TO THE VALLEY OF THE SUN: Heading to a track where he has found success at every level of NASCAR competition, Byron will return to Phoenix for the 12th time in his Cup career. Across his 11 Cup Series starts at the 1-mile oval, Byron’s best showing came earlier this year when he took home the victory. He has earned six top-10s and led 91 laps. His five top-10 finishes since 2020 are tied for his second-most at a track behind only Kansas Speedway with six. With three Next Gen races (since 2022) taking place at Phoenix, Byron leads all drivers with laps run in the top five (621) and ranks third in laps run in the top 10 (840). The Charlotte, North Carolina, native also has two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Phoenix on his résumé, both coming in 2017. He started on the front row and finished in the top four in both races, including a win in November 2017. With that victory, he became the youngest winner ever at Phoenix in the Xfinity Series at 19 years, 11 months and 13 days. The following week he earned the Xfinity Series championship.

DYNAMIC DUO OUT WEST: In 2016, Byron was behind the wheel for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race in Arizona with crew chief Rudy Fugle atop the pit box. The duo won the pole and went on to lead 112 laps. Unfortunately, an engine failure while Byron was leading with 10 laps to go ended his night early and his chances to advance on to the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway – where they ended up finding redemption and winning the next weekend.

RUDY’S PHOENIX PERFORMANCE: Going to Phoenix for the sixth time in his Cup Series crew chief career, Fugle has one win (March 2023), one top-five finish, three top-10s and 76 laps led in those previous five races. Aside from his Cup Series starts, Fugle has three Xfinity Series starts and eight Truck Series starts under his belt at the 1-mile desert oval. In those eight Truck Series races, Fugle has four pole awards and his drivers have led a total of 471 laps. While Fugle has only one Truck Series win at Phoenix, he has two runner-up results, four top-five finishes and six top-10s.

PIT ROAD PROWESS: After 35 races in the 2023 season, the No. 24 pit crew remains in the top spot with the fastest average four-tire pit stop time of 10.963 seconds. The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler). In the middle race of the Round of 8 at Homestead-Miami, the No. 24 team had the fastest average four-tire pit stop time of 9.986 seconds.

AT IT AGAIN WITH AXALTA: For the season finale, Axalta will be back onboard Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. This is Axalta’s 31st year of partnership with Hendrick Motorsports. The company has been a primary partner for two of Byron’s wins this year – the May victory at Darlington and the July triumph at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

48 Alex Bowman

Age: 30 (April 25, 1993)

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Resides: Concord, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Blake Harris

Standings: 21st

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

BEST IN THE WEST: Since the start of the 2020 season, Alex Bowman has tallied two wins in the NASCAR Cup Series at tracks on the West Coast. The first of those wins occurred at Auto Club Speedway in March 2020. In that race, Bowman won the first stage and finished second in the second stage, leading 110 laps en route to his second career Cup Series victory. The No. 48 driver scored his other West Coast win in 2022 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In that event, he won the first stage and led 16 laps, all but securing his spot in that year’s Cup Series playoffs.

COMING HOME: Bowman heads to his home state to take on Phoenix Raceway for the 17th time in his Cup Series career. The Tucson, Arizona, native has two top-10 finishes at the 1-mile facility. His best result at this track came in the 2016 fall race, where he finished sixth. In that event, he started from the pole, led a race-high and single-race career-best 194 laps and spent 272 laps inside the top two for an average running position of 1.90. The Hendrick Motorsports driver also has six NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the 1-mile oval with a best finish of eighth (2017) and one ARCA Menards Series West start (then-known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West) in 2011 when he led 23 laps en route to a second-place result.

SEASON SUMMARY: Bowman is completing his sixth season at Hendrick Motorsports and his third behind the wheel of the No. 48 Ally Chevy. This year, the 30-year-old driver won the pole position for the DAYTONA 500 and held the points lead in the early spring. In his first season paired with crew chief Blake Harris, Bowman earned double-digit top-10 finishes (10) for the sixth consecutive campaign.

AZ BOSS: This Sunday, Harris will sit atop the No. 48 pit box, calling the shots for the season finale at Phoenix. While Harris hails from Maypearl, Texas, this weekend holds a unique spot in his heart as both drivers he has worked with as a crew chief in the Cup Series are Arizona natives. Making his fourth start at the desert venue as the shot caller, he looks to continue his success with Bowman after nabbing a ninth-place finish in the spring.

SAVE THEM ALL: Bowman and his primary partner Ally teamed up this year to bring back the Best Friends Animal Society donation effort. This week, the duo will make charitable contributions to Love Them All Sanctuary + Rescue, which serves the local community in Scottsdale, Arizona. Bowman and Ally will donate $4,800 to Best Friends and Love Them All Sanctuary + Rescue. Ally will increase its donation to $10,000 if the No. 48 team wins on Sunday.

SHINING BRIGHT IN THE DAYTIME: For the race at Phoenix, the No. 48 Ally Chevy will adorn its “day” scheme. This scheme hosts a white base with bright plum, grapefruit and seafoam stripes down the sides. Check out all the angles of the ride here. 

HENDRICK
MOTORSPORTS /

Hendrick Motorsports

2023	All-Time	Phoenix
Races	35	1,344	54
Wins	10*	301*	13*
Poles	6	245*	14*
Top 5	40*	1,230*	54*
Top 10	65*	2,110*	100*
Laps Led	2,345	79,662*	3,435*
Stage Wins	18**	97	6

*Most **Most (tie)

PLAYOFF LOWDOWN: For the second time in three years, Hendrick Motorsports has two drivers in the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. This is also the fourth straight season that the organization has had at least one driver eligible for the title in the season finale. Kyle Larson and William Byron are each set to compete for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship. This year’s playoffs have seen the organization triumph in the opening races in the Round of 16 (Larson at Darlington Raceway), the Round of 12 (Byron at Texas Motor Speedway) and the Round of 8 (Larson at Las Vegas Motor Speedway).

CHAMPIONSHIP COUNT: With 14 Cup Series championships, Hendrick Motorsports has the most titles in the sport’s top series. NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2024 inductee Jimmie Johnson accounts for half of those with seven (2006-10, 2013 and 2016). NASCAR Hall of Famer and team vice chairman Jeff Gordon racked up four titles (1995, 1997-98 and 2001). NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte (1996), Chase Elliott (2020) and Larson (2021) each have one championship for the team. Nine of those titles have come in the playoff era (2004-present).

NUMERICAL NOMENCLATURE: To date, Hendrick Motorsports’ 14 titles are divided up among four car numbers: No. 48 with seven, No. 24 with four, No. 5 with two and the No. 9 with one. The four different car numbers to win a championship for one team is a Cup Series record.

CREW COUNT: A record six crew chiefs are responsible for the team’s 14 Cup Series championships. Vice president of competition Chad Knaus won seven atop the pit box, while Ray Evernham has three. Gary DeHart, Robbie Loomis, Alan Gustafson and Cliff Daniels each have one. Rudy Fugle and Daniels are after titles this season in both the driver and owner championships.

FINAL FOUR: The organization has had five drivers reach the Championship 4 in the elimination-style format that began in 2014. Gordon (2015), Johnson (2016), Elliott (2020, 2021 and 2022), Larson (2021 and 2023) and Byron (2023) have all accomplished that feat. Johnson, Elliott and Larson each won the title in their first Championship 4 appearance.

RECORD SETTERS: Hendrick Motorsports has posted a series-best 58 wins in the playoffs, which is 21 more than the closest team. Johnson has the most with 29 victories. Among the current driver lineup, Larson tops the board with eight wins, then Elliott at seven victories and Byron and Alex Bowman with one each.

GOOD SIGN: In six of the last seven occurrences where a Hendrick Motorsports driver has won at least six races, that driver has gone on to win the title (Johnson in 2007-10 and 2013 and Larson in 2021). Byron has a half dozen wins in the 2023 season.

WINNER WINNER: In 2023, Hendrick Motorsports has won 10 points-paying races. This is the third straight season and 13th season overall that the organization has won at least 10 races. The run of back-to-back-to-back years with at least 10 wins is the second longest in team history behind the team’s four straight seasons of double-digit wins from 1995 to 1998.

CARUTH HOPS IN: Rajah Caruth will be behind the wheel of the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro during Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix. Greg Ives will be serving as the crew chief for the effort. Caruth, a 21-year-old driver, has run full-time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series this year, with four top-10 finishes, including an eighth-place result in the last race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Over the last two seasons, he has made 18 starts in the Xfinity ranks.

EDGE OF SEVENTEEN: Hendrick Motorsports has made five starts in the Xfinity Series this year. Cup Series regulars Larson, Elliott, Byron and Bowman have each made at least one appearance in the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro with a combined three top-five finishes, four top-10s and one pole position. The No. 17 carries special significance to the Hendrick Motorsports family as it is the same number Ricky Hendrick drove and won with in the Truck Series. In its history, Hendrick Motorsports has earned one Xfinity Series championship (2003) and 26 race wins in the series.

BAKER’S DOZEN IN THE DESERT: The Rick Hendrick-owned organization has a series-best 13 wins among nine drivers at Phoenix. Johnson tops the board with four, followed by Gordon with two victories. Kyle Busch, Byron, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Elliott, Labonte, Larson and Mark Martin have each tallied one triumph at the 1-mile track for the team. Elliott and Larson’s wins came in the 2020 and 2021 championship races. The organization also leads the way in poles (14), top-five finishes (54), top-10s (100) and laps led (3,435) at the Arizona venue.

SPRING REWIND: In this year’s spring race at Phoenix, Hendrick Motorsports dominated the event as the team earned the win and led 265 of the 317 laps run. Byron notched the victory as he got the better of Larson in an overtime finish. Larson scored the pole position and led a race-high 201 laps. In addition, Bowman and Josh Berry (filling in for an injured Elliott) notched top-10 finishes as all four cars placed in the top 10.

NEXT GEN NUMBERS: Phoenix has hosted three races in the Next Gen era (2022-present). In those events, Byron (621) and Larson (585) rank one-two in laps run in the top five. Byron (840) and Larson (771) are also third and fourth for laps run in the top 10.

WEST SUCCESS: Of the last 17 races on the West Coast, nine have resulted in victories for the Concord, North Carolina-based team. Larson has five wins, while Byron has two and Bowman and Elliott have one each. On this year’s three-race western swing following the DAYTONA 500, Byron won two of the three races (Las Vegas and Phoenix). Larson’s win in the playoff race at Las Vegas secured his spot in the Championship 4. The team’s 44 wins on the West Coast are the most in the series.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on competing for a second championship at Phoenix Raceway: “I’m excited to go to Phoenix (Raceway) and hopefully have a good run. 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.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team’s plan for championship weekend at Phoenix: “Our mindset is really to execute a good weekend. Starting with unloading on Friday, getting the car through tech and on track for practice. We really want to execute a good practice to get (Kyle) Larson’s Chevy comfortable. Of course, we want it to be fast. I think the best combination is going to be having a good car that has speed and good drivability. You’ve got to have a lot of versatility built into your car. We look to make good changes ahead of qualifying on Saturday, once we have a better idea of what is needed for race day. Our goal is to stay focused at each step along the way. Hopefully, that will set us up for a good day on Sunday.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what he values most about his team: “They’re top notch. Just a really good group. I enjoy going to work with them each week. There’s not a lot of ego. They enjoy having fun, putting in the work and showing up prepared. Ultimately, as a teammate and a competitor, that’s all I can ask for. If we are all showing up and we are as best prepared as we can be and go and give it our best effort each week, that’s all I can ask for from my side. I try to give that back to them as well. I think we all know each other well enough at this point that when we show up we are going to give it our best effort and give it our all. I don’t question that out of them and they don’t question that out of me.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the keys to performing well at Phoenix: “The corners are quite a bit different, so getting those as similar as you can is key. Having comfort and security on corner entry, with good center turn and drive off is also important. The fact that the corner entries are significantly different make it challenging, but that’s also what makes it fun and unique.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on preparing for Phoenix: “I wanted this opportunity bad and I wanted it really bad for our team. 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 (Raceway). 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.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his mindset of racing for a NASCAR Cup Series championship: “This is about capitalizing on the opportunity. The opportunity to run for a championship at the top level of motorsports in North America is what we dream of doing. I know the whole team feels the same way. We’re going to put our full effort into it and we will know that after the race Sunday, we will have put everything we have on the line. There will be no regrets. We have an amazing team, pit crew and support system back at the shop. We’re going to use every ounce of intelligence, effort and athleticism that we have to make it happen.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at his home track on the Cup Series circuit: “Phoenix Raceway is obviously super special to me since it’s my home track. I had a good run here in 2016 and just haven’t been able to find the same speed, so it’s been circled on my calendar since then. Honestly, a good run this weekend would just mean a lot in general with how this season has gone for us. Getting the ship righted for 2024 is important but we have to be mindful of our teammates and how the championship race is going. There are a lot of different variables at play this weekend. We will just have to do what we can and maximize our opportunities on Sunday.”

Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Phoenix this Sunday: “This track is a special place for Alex (Bowman) and running well is something we all strive for on any weekend, but this track in specific is one we put a lot of emphasis on. It has a lot of challenges that our team is working hard to figure out in the simulator and using our notes from our top-10 run in the spring. I think that is something that just helps our team stay focused on getting the small details right before we show up at the racetrack. Luckily, we get a full 50-minute practice session to help make any adjustments that Alex needs ahead of qualifying and the race. I feel good about our weekend and hopefully, we can contend at the end.”

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE: 2023 NASCAR CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND
Phoenix Raceway
Avondale, Arizona
November 3-5, 2023

 AND THE 2023 CHAMPION IS…

NASCAR’s 75th anniversary season will come to an end this weekend as the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS), NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) will head to Phoenix Raceway for the 2023 season finale. Six Chevrolet drivers will vie for the championship title across NASCAR’s top three divisions, including Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson and William Byron; JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier and Sam Mayer; GMS Racing’s Grant Enfinger and Niece Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar.

With six championship titles up for grabs this weekend, Chevrolet has already claimed three – its 42nd NCS Manufacturer Championship, 25th Bill France Performance Cup in the NXS and 11th NCTS Manufacturer Championship. This marks Chevrolet’s fifth time sweeping the manufacturer championship titles across all three NASCAR national series – also accomplishing the feat in 2012, 2005, 1998 and 1996. A sweep of the trio of championship titles has only happened once by a competing manufacturer, making Chevrolet the only manufacturer to successful achieve this feat on multiple occasions.

Chevrolet claimed the top position in the NCS and NXS manufacturer points standings following a pair of wins in the series’ season openers at Daytona International Speedway courtesy of JTG Daugherty Racing’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill. From then on, the Bowtie Brand never looked back – holding the lead through the entirety of the 2023 season en route to each championship title.

 SIX CHEVROLET DRIVERS SET FOR TITLE RACE

Among the remaining championship hopefuls, Chevrolet is the only manufacturer to have two drivers in title contention in each of NASCAR’s three national series. Already locking-up all three manufacturer championships, Chevrolet has the potential to also sweep the driver championships across all three series – a feat that only Chevrolet has accomplished in NASCAR history (1998 and 1996).

NASCAR Cup Series:

Kyle Larson and William Byron will represent Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series’ title-deciding race as the pair of Hendrick Motorsports teammates will look to deliver Chevrolet its 34th Driver Championship in NASCAR’s premier series.

The only former champion left in title contention, this weekend will mark Larson’s second career appearance in the series’ Championship Four. Of his four points-paying wins this season, two have come in the postseason, including the Round of 16 opener at Darlington Raceway and the Round of Eight opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 31-year-old Elk Grove, California, native is the only Championship Four driver that has a playoff win at Phoenix Raceway – recorded in 2021 en route to his first career championship in the series. In his 18 career NCS starts at the one-mile Arizona tri-oval, Larson has posted an average finish of 11.7, which is the best among the Championship Four. Taking the 2023 title would make Larson just the third active driver – and 18th in NASCAR history – to win multiple championships in NASCAR’s top division.

In a total team effort at Martinsville Speedway, William Byron and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 team drove to a hard-fought 13th place finish to advance into the title-deciding race. In his fifth consecutive season competing in the NCS playoffs, this marks Byron’s first appearance in the Championship Four as the 25-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina, native will look to become the 36th driver to win the championship in NASCAR’s premiere series.

Byron’s first chance at a championship title comes in an already career season after earning six wins, 14 top-fives, 20 top-10s and an average finish of 11.2 – all of which are series-leading statistics. Continuing the trend, the consistency of Byron’s postseason performance has been unmatched – tallying one win (Texas Motor Speedway), five top-fives, seven top-10s and an average finish of 6.33 in nine playoff races. Byron will return to Phoenix Raceway with an added piece of momentum as the series’ most recent winner at the track (March 2023). In his 11 career starts at the Arizona venue, Byron has one win, six top-10s and an average finish of 11.9

Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1
Victories: 4
Poles: 2
Top-Fives: 14
Top-10s: 17
Laps Led: 1,127
Average Finish: 15.0
Stage Wins: 8
At Phoenix Raceway:
Wins: 1
Top-Fives: 7
Top-10s: 11
Average Finish: 11.722

William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1
Victories: 6
Poles: 3
Top-Fives: 14
Top-10s: 20
Laps Led: 921
Average Finish: 11.2
Stage Wins: 8
At Phoenix Raceway:
Wins: 1
Top-Fives: 1
Top-10s: 6
Average Finish: 11.909

 NASCAR Xfinity Series:

In dramatic fashion, NXS veteran Justin Allgaier was able to edge out fellow Chevrolet driver Sheldon Creed by a mere 0.032-second margin to take the win and a ticket to the Championship Four in the series’ Round of Eight elimination race at Martinsville Speedway. Allgaier joins his JR Motorsports teammate Sam Mayer in the Championship Four as the duo looks to give Chevrolet its 22nd NXS Driver Championship. The pair of JR Motorsports drivers enter the season finale race weekend sitting one-two in the playoff rankings after each recording a win in the Round of Eight to secure their spots in the Championship Four.

The youngest of the NXS Championship Four drivers, Mayer’s first opportunity to compete for the title comes in just his second full-time season in the series. The 20-year-old Franklin, Wisconsin, native become a first-time winner in the series at Road America (July), with the Chevrolet driver going on to reel off three more victories – highlighted by his victory in the second race of the Round of Eight at Homestead-Miami Speedway that secured his berth into the championship-deciding race.

Allgaier will look to capitalize on his veteran playoff experience as he races for his first career NXS championship title. The 37-year-old Riverton, Illinois, native has now competed in all eight NXS playoffs since the format was introduced to the series in 2016, with this season marking his sixth appearance in the Championship Four. Allgaier knows his way to victory lane at the one-mile Arizona tri-oval, visiting victory lane twice at the track in his NXS career.

 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series:

Similar to the NXS, a first-time championship contender and a series’ veteran will be vying for Chevrolet’s 15th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Driver Championship. Niece Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar and GMS Racing’s Grant Enfinger will each enter the season finale race weekend eyeing their first career NCTS championship title.

Hocevar has competed in the NCTS playoffs in each of his three full-time seasons in the series, with 2023 marking his first career appearance in the Championship Four. The 20-year-old Portage, Michigan, native recorded each of his four career wins this season, highlighted by his victory in the series’ Round of Eight elimination race at Homestead-Miami Speedway that solidified his spot in the Championship Four.

Enfinger will look to cap off GMS Racing’s final NASCAR start by delivering the Chevrolet organization its third championship title in the series. The 38-year-old Fairhope, Alabama, native has driven his No. 23 Silverado RST to three victories this season, one of which came in the postseason at the Milwaukee Mile (August).

 BY THE NUMBERS AT PHOENIX RACEWAY

The NASCAR Cup Series made its first appearance at Phoenix Raceway in November 1988 and has since hosted 54 races for the division, including the past three championship-deciding events. Behind the wheel of the iconic No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Sr. carried the Bowtie Brand to its first trip to victory lane at the desert oval in November 1990. En route to a now series-leading 26 all-time victories at Phoenix Raceway, Chevrolet went on an impressive double-digit win streak from November 2005 to April 2010, with six different drivers earning a combined 10 wins under the Chevrolet banner. Chevrolet’s two most recent NCS winners at Phoenix Raceway are the manufacturer’s Championship Four contenders with Kyle Larson’s win in the title-deciding race in November 2021, as well as William Byron’s win in the series’ most recent appearance at the track in March 2023.

 PIT ROAD PERFORMANCE

A key element in a championship-caliber team is performance on pit road, and Chevrolet’s two Championship Four pit crews know how to put their drivers in position to win. Heading into the season finale race weekend, the pit crews for the Hendrick Motorsports-prepared No. 24 and No. 5 teams rank first and second in the series in average four-tire stops this season. The No. 5 pit crew proved the importance of strong pit stops two years ago – taking Larson from fourth to first on the final stop of the day to put the Chevrolet driver in position to win the race and the championship title.

THAT’S A WRAP ON 2023 ‘MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER’ CAMPAIGN

For the 13th consecutive year, Chevrolet partnered with the American Cancer Society and its ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ initiative. The specially-themed pink Camaro ZL1 served as the official pace vehicle for three NASCAR Cup Series races during the month of October, and for every caution lap the pink Camaro ZL1 completed, Chevrolet will make a donation of $350 (up to $50,000) to the American Cancer Society to honor the ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ initiative.

The third and final event of the initiative took place last weekend during the NCS Round of Eight elimination race at Martinsville Speedway. Heading into the weekend, the running total sat at $18,900 following the first two races of the campaign at Talladega Superspeedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. With 61 laps made under caution during the NCS Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, Chevrolet will contribute an additional $21,350, bringing Chevrolet’s total contribution to the campaign to $40,250 for 2023.

 BOWTIE BULLETS:

· Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Phoenix Raceway:

Kyle Busch – three wins (2019, 2018, 2005)
William Byron – one win (2023)
Kyle Larson – one win (2021)
Chase Elliott – one win (2020)

· In 54 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Phoenix Raceway, Chevrolet has recorded a series-leading 26 victories. Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at the track with 13, recorded by eight different drivers: Terry Labonte (1994), Kyle Busch (2005), Jeff Gordon (2007, 2011), Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2008 sweep, 2009), Mark Martin (2009), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2015), Chase Elliott (2020), Kyle Larson (2021) and William Byron (2023).

· In 35 points-paying NASCAR Cup Series races this season, Chevrolet continues to lead the series in wins (17), top-fives (74), top-10s (146), stage wins (25) and laps led (3,379).

· Chevrolet leads the series in wins across all three NASCAR national series this season with 17 victories in 35 NASCAR Cup Series races, 17 victories in 32 NASCAR Xfinity Series races and 13 wins in 22 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races.

· Chevrolet’s series-leading 17 NASCAR Cup Series wins this season have been recorded by seven drivers from five different Chevrolet teams: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (JTG Daugherty Racing), Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing), William Byron and Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports), Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing) and AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing).

· Chevrolet drivers have recorded 25 of the 70 NASCAR Cup Series stage wins this season: William Byron (eight), Kyle Larson (eight), Ross Chastain (five), Kyle Busch (two) and Chase Elliott (two).

· Chevrolet clinched three championship titles before entering NASCAR’s season finale race weekend at Phoenix Raceway – claiming its 42nd NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championship; its 25th Bill France Performance Cup in the NASCAR Xfinity Series; and its 11th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Manufacturer Championship.

· This marks Chevrolet’s fifth time sweeping the manufacturer championship titles across all three NASCAR national series – also accomplishing the feat in 2012, 2005, 1998 and 1996. Taking it one step further, the Bowtie Brand is the only manufacturer in NASCAR history to accomplish this feat on multiple occasions.

· Chevrolet is the only manufacturer in NASCAR history to sweep both the manufacturer championships and the driver championships in all three NASCAR national series in the same season – accomplishing the feat in 1998 and 1996.

· With its 42 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships and 850 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title of winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

 FOR THE FANS:

· Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Phoenix Raceway.

· Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles at the Team Chevy Racing Display including: 2024 Equinox RS, 2024 Silverado 1500 Crew LT, 2024 2500HD Silverado HC, 2024 Trax Activ, Tahoe, Colorado, Corvette

· Fans can also view Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Camaro ZL1 show car, as well as the actual Garage 56 Camaro ZL1 that competed at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display:

Friday, November 3

· Nick Sanchez: 10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

· Christian Eckes & Jake Garcia: 10:45 a.m. – 11 a.m.

· Stefan Parsons: 11 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

· Grant Enfinger, Rajah Caruth & Daniel Dye: 11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Saturday, November 4

· Justin Allgaier: 10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

· Carson Hocevar: 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

· Sam Mayer: 10:45 a.m. – 11 a.m.

· Alex Bowman: 11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

· Josh Berry: 2 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

· Brandon Jones: 2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

· Daniel Hemric: 2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Sunday, November 5

· Chase Elliott: 9:40 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.

· Kyle Larson: 10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

· William Byron: 10:20 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.

· Ross Chastain: 10:35 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

· Kyle Busch: 10:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.

Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:

· Friday, November 3: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

· Saturday, November 4: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

· Sunday, November 5: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

 
TUNE IN:

NASCAR Cup Series: Championship Race

Sunday, November 5, at 3 p.m. ET

(NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Xfinity Series: Championship Race

Saturday, November 4, at 7 p.m. ET

(USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Craftsman 150

Friday, November 3, at 10 p.m. ET

(FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

 
QUOTABLE QUOTES

ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 WORLDWIDE EXPRESS CAMARO ZL1

With one race to go, how do you look at your season?

“We’ve had a good season. We got back to victory lane, had a good run in the playoffs, and made improvements throughout the season. You have to remember that it wasn’t that long ago that I was battling every week just to even get to the track (laughs). We have a great crew, great support from everyone at Trackhouse and our partners, and that’s all you can ask for. I’m getting to live my dream everyday by driving the No. 1 Chevy for Trackhouse with a great group of people.”

KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1

Larson on racing at Phoenix Raceway:

“I’m excited to go to Phoenix (Raceway) and hopefully have a good run. We were okay there (Phoenix Raceway) 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.”

CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1

Daniels on racing at Phoenix Raceway:

“Our mindset is really to execute a good weekend. Starting with unloading on Friday, getting the car through tech and on track for practice. We really want to execute a good practice to get (Kyle) Larson’s Chevy comfortable. Of course, we want it to be fast. I think the best combination is going to be having a good car that has speed and good drivability. You’ve got to have a lot of versatility built into your car. We look to make good changes ahead of qualifying on Saturday, once we have a better idea of what is needed for race day. Our goal is to stay focused at each step along the way and hopefully that will set us up for a good day on Sunday.”

KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 3CHI CAMARO ZL1

What is the key to running well at Phoenix? Does the car need to turn well in the center of the corner and be good on exit?

“I would say the key to running well at Phoenix is just having grip. Obviously being able to roll the center of the corner. If you can have really good grip in your car where the car turns in the middle of the corner and then you can get the throttle down on exit that’s hugely important because that just makes up all your lap time.”

How critical are managing the restarts at Phoenix?

“Phoenix restarts are fun; they’re challenging but fun. You know you have that big, wide front straightaway where the dogleg is that you can go all the way to the flat down on the apron and be five, six, seven wide or whatever and then you have to funnel down into a two-wide turn. That gets a little dicey but you know it’s cool when you can run different lines and kind of be out of the crowd a little bit and make some passes on some restarts and get some positions on that. I’ve been fortunate to be fast on some restarts in years past and that kind of helps me get some spots right off the bat on a restart. And then you kind of settle in line and you go racing from there.”

CARSON HOCEVAR, NO. 42 SUNSEEKER RESORTS CAMARO ZL1

This is a big weekend for you in the Truck Series, but as you look ahead to your final Cup Series start with LEGACY M.C., what are some of the biggest takeaways that you can bring into your first full-time season next year?

“I’m very excited, this is a big weekend I feel I’ve worked my whole career for. To be able to race in the Cup Series and know I’ll be in a Cup car full time after this weekend, but to also fight for a championship and do both in the same weekend is something I am very grateful and thankful for everyone that’s helped and pushed to get me here. It has been a great experience to be able to work with both LEGACY M.C. and Niece Motorsports this weekend and this year as a whole! We learned a lot this season and I am thankful knowing that I can have this experience heading into 2024, but am laser-focused on the task at hand.”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 ALLEGIANT ALLWAYS REWARDS CAMARO ZL1

“Phoenix is a good track, obviously finishing out the season here, and we want to go out on a good note and have a strong run going into the off-season. Obviously, the guys competing in the championship will be tough to go up against, but I think overall we should have a decent day in Phoenix with our Allegiant Allways Rewards Chevrolet team, and then go into our offseason strong.”

CHASE PURDY, NO. 4 BAMA BUGGIES SILVERADO RST

Give an evaluation of how your season has gone.

“I definitely think that the back half of our season was better than the start, just with how far we’ve come as a group and what we’ve learned. I think that we have learned what we expect out of one another and the things that we want. I’m just excited that I’ve been able to work with this group of guys. I’m happy with how we’ve done things the last half of the year. I think that if we could start the season over, we would be playoff contenders and we would be going into Phoenix as a part of the Championship 4.”

Phoenix is a unique racetrack, do you like racing there?

“I do like Phoenix. I’m excited to go there in a KBM truck. It seems like every track that we’ve gone to has been significantly better than what I’ve had in previous years there. Phoenix is a cool track and I like racing it. I’m excited to see what it’s like in a KBM truck.

What does it take to have a fast truck at Phoenix?

“You have to have your truck turning good. You don’t want to be tight. My crew chief, Jimmy Villeneuve, has said that we haven’t been tight all year long, so I don’t expect it to be tight at Phoenix. I’m looking forward to it and excited about it.”

How do you feel being one of the drivers to race in the final race for KBM?

“I’ve definitely thought about it. I’m the last full-time KBM driver that there’s going to be at KBM. I just want to go out there and deliver a good race for KBM in the final race. I want to make the bossman and everyone else who has put their hard work, sweat, and tears into this proud. It’s my job to go out there and run well and win. “

CHRISTIAN ECKES, NO. 19 NAPA AUTOCARE SILVERADO RST

On entering the season finale at Phoenix:

“This race team and everyone at MHR deserved to be fighting for a championship this week, but we’re looking forward to another opportunity to race for another win. We’ve had a really strong year with three wins and making the run that we did in the playoffs. Our NAPA Auto Care team was really consistent with the speed we’ve shown all season and all playoffs. It’d be great to end the season on a strong note and get back to victory lane one more time heading into the offseason.”

GRANT ENFINGER, NO. 23 CHAMPION POWER EQUIPMENT SILVERADO RST

Now that you’ve made it to Phoenix, what is it going to take to win the championship on Friday night?

“I’d say the biggest thing for our group is just don’t beat ourselves. We have had great trucks all year and there’s been winning speed at a good amount of races. I feel like even though we might not have been the best truck at Gateway, we were a top-three truck at the end of it, and when we turned around to Milwaukee, I feel that no question we had the best truck out there. Gateway and Milwaukee aren’t exactly like Phoenix, but there are some characteristics there that translate well between the three. We’re taking the same truck that we ran with at Milwaukee, and I don’t think that there’s been too much of a change in the truck package and from the racetrack as a whole to where we know what to expect. It’ll be the same tire, and our guys have been preparing so much for this race. I’m going into this weekend with the mentality of we need to win this race to secure the deal. And I am confident in our team that we will have a Champion Power Equipment Chevy that can contend on Friday night.”

How special would it be to send GMS Racing off by delivering them a championship in the team’s last race?

“That is certainly what everybody desires. I know for Jeff and I personally, we both feel like we owe a lot to Maury and Spencer Gallagher, Mike Beam, and Ron Booth. They have been a big part of my career and gave me my first big break in the ARCA Series back in 2014. But not only that, they’ve given so much to the series as a whole. They’ve been so good and have helped so many drivers, teams, and crew chiefs along the way and it would be very special to get them one last championship in their final race. We want to send them off the right way for sure, but at the end of the day the guys that we are racing against want it too. I feel like we are in a position with our organization and the speed of our trucks that if we do everything right, I think we can beat the other three guys at their best. That’s been our focus to control everything we can control on our end. Now if we stumble some and show up with a top-five truck, we might need some help. But that’s not the mentality we’re going into it with.”

RAJAH CARUTH, NO. 24 WENDELL SCOTT FOUNDATION SILVERADO RST

As you look back on your rookie season, how would you assess how your year has gone?

“I think this year, full of trials and tribulations has been rocky and testing for us in the first half of the season. But I’d say that the back-half of the year has been really strong for us. We’ve been completing races and getting top-10s and gaining spots in points along the way. I’ve been improving a lot as a driver and as a young man. Hopefully we can have one last good weekend with GMS to have a send-off where we can compete for the win with our Wendell Scott Foundation team, and hopefully Grant (Enfinger) can bring home the championship for everybody.”

What are you going to miss the most about racing with GMS?

“The biggest thing I am going to miss about GMS Racing will be the people. I haven’t even been here for a full calendar year yet, but the relationships I’ve built outside of just strictly professional wise have been great. They’ve helped me with everything – working on my personal car, putting stuff together at my house, and supporting me in all of my races; whether that be at the Late Model track or at the dirt track, or even in my Xfinity Series races. I’ve learned that at GMS in particular, everybody here is a true racer, but at the same time it has all been one big family. And I will always be thankful for that.”

JAKE GARCIA, NO. 35 QUANTA SERVICES SILVERADO RST

On wrapping up his rookie season:

“It’s been a fun year and I’ve been able to get a lot of experience racing at all these tracks for the first time and seeing so many different situations. I have to thank everyone at MHR, our partners at Quanta Services and Adaptive One. After going to so many different tracks, it’s nice to finish the year at Phoenix since I was able to race there last year. We had a really fast Chevrolet at Gateway and Milwaukee earlier this year, both flat tracks, so hopefully that will translate to Phoenix this week so we can end the season on a positive note.”

DANIEL DYE, NO. 43 GMS RACING SILVERADO RST

What has been your favorite moment about racing with GMS in the three years you have been here?

“My favorite memory with GMS Racing is probably from when we won at Berlin Raceway in the ARCA Series. Either that or when we finished third last year at Daytona. Both were great memories for me. Berlin was really cool; we dominated the whole race and I remember Chad Bryant trying to teach me how to do a burnout over the radio. I remember banging it off the rev limiter and I had already unplugged my radio, and he was screaming at me to shift to second gear. I didn’t look like I was very experienced in the burnout department, but that was just a cool memory that I had of that win at Berlin.”

As you look towards next season, what have you learned this year that can prepare you for your second year in trucks?

“Man, just having the experience of running 23 truck races is going to be huge. Hopefully we will have success next year. Having Grant as a teammate this year and being able to lean off him as well as Rajah with both of us being rookies was very important. We didn’t have the year that we wanted, but definitely learned a lot and gained a bunch of valuable experience that can help our journey to win some races next year.”

JACK WOOD, NO. 51 RUBBIN’ IS RACING SILVERADO RST

You showed speed in the ARCA race earlier this year at Phoenix. Does that excite you for this race?

“When you go to a place that you’ve run well at, it gets you excited about going back. Of all the tracks on the Truck Series schedule, Phoenix is the track that I’ve been to the most. It was close to home growing up and I got the chance to race there in an ARCA West car a couple times with my family. Of all the races on the schedule, I’ve probably looked forward to this one the most. Obviously, with this being the last race under the KBM banner, it has motivated me more to go out and get the last win in the last race for the organization. I’m excited about going there, our sim stuff has gone well and we’ve had speed there in the past as an organization.”

Will doing double duty and getting extra track time driving the ARCA car benefit you this weekend?

“I think it will help. I will end up with around 100 minutes of practice. When I’ve ran the ARCA car before a truck race it has helped knock the rust off and helps me fire off better on the short run in the truck. I’m lucky to be able to get in the No. 28 ARCA car, I think we will have a good shot at it there and hopefully it will be a good confidence builder going into the truck race that night.”

 
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:

Total (1949-2023): 42

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023

Drivers Championships:

Total (1949-2021): 33

First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)

Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)

Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021

Event Victories:

Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2023 STATISTICS:

Wins: 17

Poles: 8

Laps Led: 3,379

Top-five finishes: 74

Top-10 finishes: 146

Stage wins: 25

· Ross Chastain – 5 (Daytona), (Auto Club x2), (Dover), (Darlington)

· William Byron – 8 (Las Vegas x2), (Phoenix), (COTA), (Richmond), (Dover), (Charlotte), (Watkins Glen)

· Kyle Larson – 8 (Phoenix), (Bristol Dirt), (Pocono), (Kansas), (Texas), (Las Vegas x2), (Homestead)

· Chase Elliott – 2 (Talladega), (Charlotte RC)

· Kyle Busch – 2 (WWTR), (Sonoma)

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 850 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 742

Laps led to date: 248,923

Top-five finishes to date: 4,295

Top-10 finishes to date: 8,858

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,184

       Chevrolet: 850

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 828                                                           

       Ford: 728

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 180

 

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Race Information
Round: NASCAR Cup Series Race No. 36 of 36 (Championship 4)
Track Location: Phoenix Raceway – Avondale, Arizona
Race Name: NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race
Broadcast: Sunday, November 5th at 3:00 PM ET live on NBC (TV), MRN (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90

Team Entrants:

No. 42 | Carson Hocevar & Luke Lambert – Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
No. 43 | Erik Jones & Dave Elenz – Allegiant Allways Rewards Chevrolet Camaro ZL

Carson Hocevar, No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Phoenix Raceway Stats

-Carson Hocevar will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start this weekend at Phoenix Raceway.

-NCTS: Starts: 4; Best Start: 6th (2021); Best Finish: 9th (2021); Top-10s: 2

2023 NASCAR Cup Series Season Stats

-Starts: 8; Best Start: 16th (Bristol); Best Finish: 11th (Bristol); No. 42 Owners Points: 32nd

2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Season Stats

-Starts: 22; Wins: 4 (Texas, Nashville, Richmond, Homestead-Miami); Best Start: 2nd (twice); Top-5s: 11; Top-10s: 13; Laps Led: 271; Current Points Position: Tied for 1st

About Sunseeker Resort: Opening in 2023, Florida’s newest luxury resort located in Charlotte Harbor is the first resort property of Sunseeker Resorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company. Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor occupies over 22 waterfront acres with 785 guest rooms, including 189 Signature Sunsuites™. Set upon the Peace River and Florida Gulf Coast, this premier resort offers 20 original food and beverage concepts; including seven stand-alone restaurants, eleven bars and lounges, two poolside offerings and a 25,000-square-foot multi-dining experience. Additional hotel amenities include a waterfront promenade, two unique rooftop and waterfront pool experiences, 60,000-square-feet of combined convention space, full-service spa and salon, a 7,100-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness center with four group exercise studios with specialty instructor lead classes, three retail and market shops, and an 18-hole championship level golf club exclusive to hotel guests only. The resort is conveniently located within a short drive of Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Sarasota, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, and Tampa airports. For more information, visit www.sunseekerresorts.com. Follow us on Instagram: @sunseekerresorts and like us on Facebook: @sunseekerresorts.

Moving On: Sunday’s event at Phoenix Raceway will mark Carson Hocevar’s final NASCAR Cup Series start for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™. Hocevar was tabbed to drive the No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet in nine races towards the end of the season, and has since been picked up for a full-time opportunity to compete for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in 2024. LEGACY M.C. is thankful to Hocevar for his role in the team’s season, and wishes him all the best as he races on Sundays next year.

Thank you Chevrolet: The season finale will close the chapter on LEGACY M.C.’s relationship with its current manufacturer partner, Chevrolet. The longstanding relationship with GM and Chevrolet has lasted for several years through previous iterations of the team, and over the years the partnership has produced several moments of success. While a new chapter lies ahead, our team will forever be grateful for the relationships made and a winning history with our friends at Chevrolet.

On the Horizon: 2024 will bring several exciting changes to the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB organization, including a transition to its future manufacturer, Toyota, along with the addition of John Hunter Nemechek, who will pilot the No. 42 entry on a full-time basis in his return to the Cup Series. It is shaping up to be a great off season for the team, and all sights are on a successful effort of racing next year.

Championship Hopeful: It’s a big weekend for Hocevar as he will contend for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship on Friday night. This season has been a breakout year for the 20-year-old, where he has picked up four wins along the way. Carson earned his first-career win at Texas Motor Speedway, and followed that performance up with victories at Nashville Superspeedway, Richmond Raceway, and Homestead-Miami Speedway. His No. 42 Niece Motorsports team has led the series in the win column, and this will be his first Championship 4 appearance. Drivers he will be competing against include GMS Racing’s Grant Enfinger, TRICON Garage’s Corey Heim, and ThorSport Racing’s Ben Rhodes. The CRAFTSMAN 150 will go green at 10:00 PM ET with coverage shown live on FS1.

Luke at Phoenix: Luke Lambert has called the shots for 19 NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix Raceway during his career as a crew chief dating back to 2011. Lambert guided Ryan Newman to the victory in the spring race of 2017, and has notched a total of three top-fives and four top-10 finishes along the way. His success doesn’t stop in the Cup Series however, as in four NASCAR Xfinity Series races, Lambert’s drivers have won twice – with the first being Elliott Sadler in the spring of 2012, and the second being Noah Gragson in the spring of last year. Back in March, the No. 42 team finished 29th in the “Valley of the Sun”.

Carson Appearances: Fans attending the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race will have three opportunities to meet LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet:

NCTS Championship 4 Q&A Session | Friday, Nov. 3rd: Hocevar will join his fellow Championship 4 contenders on the stage located in the Phoenix Raceway Infield Fan Zone to discuss the Truck Series finale on Friday from 2:00 PM to 2:15 PM local time.
Team Chevy Stage Q&A Session | Saturday, Nov. 4th: Located in the Phoenix Raceway Fan Zone, Hocevar will answer fans’ questions at the Team Chevy display on Saturday from 10:30 AM to 10:45 AM local time.
LEGACY M.C. Merchandise Rig Autograph Session | Sunday, Nov. 5th: Carson will sign autographs at the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB merchandise trailer in the Phoenix Raceway Fan Zone on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM local time.
Quoting Carson Hocevar: This is a big weekend for you in the Truck Series, but as you look ahead to your final Cup Series start with LEGACY M.C., what are some of the biggest takeaways that you can bring into your first full-time season next year?

“I’m very excited, this is a big weekend I feel I’ve worked my whole career for. To be able to race in the Cup Series and know I’ll be in a Cup car full time after this weekend, but to also fight for a championship and do both in the same weekend is something I am very grateful and thankful for everyone that’s helped and pushed to get me here. It has been a great experience to be able to work with both LEGACY M.C. and Niece Motorsports this weekend and this year as a whole! We learned a lot this season and I am thankful knowing that I can have this experience heading into 2024, but am laser-focused on the task at hand.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Allways Rewards Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Phoenix Raceway Stats

NCS Starts: 14; Best start: 7th (Fall 2015 & Fall 2018) Best finish: 4th (Fall 2017); Top-5s; Top-10s: 4; Laps led: 25

NXS Starts: 7; Best start: Pole (Spring 2016 & Fall 2017) Best finish: 2nd (Spring 2016); Top-5s; Top-10s: 4; Laps led: 25

NCTS Starts: 3; Best start: Pole (2014 & 2015) Best finish: 1st (2013); Top-5s: 2; Top-10s: 3; Laps led: 304

2023 NASCAR Cup Series Season Stats

Starts: 35; Best start: 8th (COTA); Best finish: 3rd (Kansas II); Top-5s: 1; Top-10s: 7; Laps led: 24; Points position: 27th

About Allegiant: Las Vegas-based Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) is an integrated travel company with an airline at its heart, focused on connecting customers with the people, places and experiences that matter most. Since 1999, Allegiant Air has linked travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class vacation destinations with all-nonstop flights and industry-low average fares. Today, Allegiant’s fleet serves communities across the nation, with base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket. For more information, visit us at Allegiant.com.

Martinsville in the Rearview: Erik Jones and the Allegiant Allways Rewards team qualified in the 29th position. Due to strategy, the No. 43 team took the wave-around, eventually finding themselves in the top-five. Jones held on to the fourth position during the final stage of the race, but unfortunately, the caution they were waiting for never materialized. With only 20 laps left, Jones was forced to pit for fuel and finished in the 21st position.

Best finish in the desert: Jones delivered an impressive performance in the desert during the fall of 2017. Starting just outside the top-10, he drove his way to a seventh-place finish in Stage 1. As Stage 2 waved green, Jones restarted in the eighth position and ran into the top five, ultimately clinching a third-place finish at the end of Stage 2. Jones had consistent speed throughout the last stage, resulting in an impressive fourth-place finish, marking his fifth top-five finish of the season. Matt Kenseth, Competition Advisor for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, took home the checkered flag.

Last time around: During this year’s spring race at Phoenix Raceway, Erik Jones qualified in 10th position but ran into challenges finding speed during the early stages of the race. By the end of Stage 1, Jones had slipped to the 14th position. However, with adjustments made to the Allegiant Chevrolet, Jones improved long-run speed, working his way into contention. Hoping for a caution, the No. 43 team chose to run long. This strategy paid off as Jones took the lead for 14 laps, from lap 247 to 260, marking his most laps led in a single race for the year. Jones came home with a 21st-place finish.

Familiar with the Pole: Jones has shown remarkable pole-winning speed in both the Xfinity and Truck Series, at Phoenix, securing four pole positions in 10 races. Two of these poles were won during his time with Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Truck Series, in both 2014 and 2015, on his way to winning the Truck Series championship during the 2015 season. The other two poles were secured during his time in the Xfinity Series, with starts on the front row for the 2016 spring race in 2016 and the fall race in 2017.

Dominating the Trucks: Jones has a commanding presence in the Truck Series at Phoenix Raceway, leading an impressive 304 laps over the course of just three races and securing two wins. With an average start of 1.3 and an average finish of 3.7, there was only one race that didn’t lead to a trip to victory lane.

Dave in Phoenix: Crew chief Dave Elenz has left his mark on the Phoenix track in the Xfinity Series, owning one victory, five top-five, and 10 top-10 finishes over 14 starts. Elenz has guided seven drivers to an impressive average start of 9.6 with an average finish of 11.3, during which his drivers have led 55 laps. Elenz coached William Byron to the pole position in the spring of 2017 and later led Byron to victory lane in Phoenix during the fall race that same year.

Off-Track Efforts: The Erik Jones Foundation has teamed up with the Sun Bus to offer free skin cancer checks throughout the championship weekend. The Erik Jones Foundation is built on three pillars, igniting children’s passion for reading, encouraging early cancer detection and care, and promoting animal welfare. Guests are encouraged to sign up for their free skin check here.

Wings of Blue: Jones will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the United States Air Force for a trip with the “Wings of Blue team”. Known for their daring tricks and heroic jumps, Jones will join the Wings of Blue at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs for a skydiving experience before he heads to Phoenix.

Meet Erik: Erik Jones will sign autographs for approximately 100 fans at the United States Air Force activation display in the fan midway from 9:20 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. on Sunday, November 5th.

Quoting Erik Jones: “Phoenix is a good track for us. With us finishing out the season here, we want to go out on a good note and have a strong run going into the off-season. Obviously, the guys competing in the championship will be tough to go up against, but I think overall we should have a decent day in Phoenix with our Allegiant Allways Rewards Chevrolet team, and then go into our offseason strong.”

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (NCS) Jimmie Johnson. The club competes full-time in the NCS fielding the Nos. 42 and 43 Chevrolet Camaro entries, respectively, along with the No. 84 part-time entry for Johnson in 2023. Richard Petty “The King” serves as team ambassador.

In 2021, Gallagher acquired Richard Petty Motorsports and renamed the team to Petty GMS. With the addition of Johnson to the ownership structure in 2023, the organization rebranded to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (LEGACY M.C.). With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level.

Based in Statesville, N.C., LEGACY M.C. operates alongside GMS Racing (GMS), which currently fields three full-time entries in the NASCAR Truck Series. Since the formation of GMS in 2012, Gallagher and Mike Beam, team president, have shared incredible success. GMS Racing captured the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championships and the 2019 and 2020 ARCA East championships, accumulating over 65 wins across six national racing circuits.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

For Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team, the goal for this weekend’s season-ending NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway is to build on their Martinsville run and end the season on the upswing.

Last Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, Burton and the No. 21 team recovered from a mid-race setback that put them two laps down and raced their way to a 15th-place finish. Crew chief Jeremy Bullins is looking for another strong run this weekend in the season finale.

“I’m super proud of the way we battled last week at Martinsville,” Bullins said. “We made some spots early but got trapped on the outside for a while and hurt our right-rear tire and got loose at the end of Stage One. We wound up getting spun out battling to stay on the lead lap.”

But they didn’t let the set-back hold them down for long.

“We did what you have to do,” he said. “We stayed in the game all day, and got ourselves in position to come back for a top 15.”

The veteran crew chief said that was just what the team needs at this point.

“Races like that are the momentum we need as we keep building toward 2024,” he said. “I think we can do the same this weekend in Phoenix.”

Bullins said he’s encouraged by the way Burton raced at a similar track, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in July, when he scored a top-20 finish.

“Harrison ran really well at Loudon earlier this year, and I think we can do the same at Phoenix,” Bullins said. “It’ll be an exciting season finale and hopefully a good finish for our Wood Brothers Ford and a championship for RB and everyone at Team Penske.”

Practice for the Cup Series Championship Race is set for 5:05 p.m. local time (8:05 p.m. Eastern Time) on Friday, with qualifying scheduled to start at 1:35 p.m. (4:35 Eastern) on Saturday.

USA Network will carry the TV coverage of practice and qualifying.

Sunday’s 312-lap race on the one-mile oval is set to get the green flag just after 1 p.m. (3 p.m. Eastern Time), with TV coverage on NBC.

Stage breaks are planned for Laps 60 and 185.

About Motorcraft®
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Omnicraft®
Omnicraft is part of the Ford lineup of parts brands: Ford Parts, Motorcraft and Omnicraft. Omnicraft is the exclusive non-Ford/Lincoln parts brand of premium aftermarket parts. With over a century of parts heritage to build upon, Omnicraft provides excellent quality and fit and is a preferred choice of professional automotive technicians. To find out more about Omnicraft, visit www.omnicraftautoparts.com or contact your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 176,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com.
*See seller for limited-warranty details.

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.

ARIC ALMIROLA
Phoenix Season Finale Advance
No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale (Round 36 of 36)

● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 5

● Location: Phoenix Raceway

● Layout: 1-mile oval

● Laps/Miles: 312 laps/312 miles (502 kilometers)

● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 125 laps / Final Stage: 127 laps

● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● This weekend’s season finale at Phoenix Raceway will be a bittersweet one for Aric Almirola. Last weekend, the 39-year-old announced via social media that he would officially step away from the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang Cup Series entry at Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) and is excited for his next adventure. More than a year ago, Almirola announced he would retire from fulltime cup series racing to spend more time with family. Through the course of the year, he discovered a new balance between his passion for racing and dedication to his family. His wife Janice, and kids Alex and Abby, joined him on most race weekends, oftentimes enjoying once-in-a-lifetime experiences together as they traveled the country. When SHR and sponsor Smithfield Foods asked him to reconsider, he did. This time around, the Almirola family is ready for the next adventure.

● Almirola’s career: Almirola came to SHR in 2018 after spending six fulltime Cup Series seasons at Richard Petty Motorsports. In his first year with SHR, he finished a career-best fifth in the championship standings after earning a spot in the 16-driver NASCAR Playoffs, advancing to the Round of 8 for the first time. He won his second career NASCAR Cup Series race Oct. 14 that year at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway as part of a season-long tally that included four top-five finishes and 17 top-10s and 181 laps led, surpassing all of his previous single-season highs in those categories. Almirola enjoyed an impressive run of four consecutive playoff appearances from 2018 to 2021. His third career win came at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon on July 18, 2021.

● NASCAR Cup Series Stats: In Almirola’s 460 career Cup Series starts, he has earned three wins, 30 top-fives, 96 top-10s, six poles, and has led 1,147 laps. Of those totals, two wins, five poles, 19 top-fives, 64 top-10s and 971 laps led came in his six seasons with SHR. Almirola’s Cup Series career has typically been synonymous with the title “superspeedway ace,” thanks to his consistency at the most inconsistent wild card tracks. With his third-place finish in the June 2020 race at Talladega, Almirola tied the record of eight consecutive Talladega top-10s set by Dale Earnhardt Jr., from April 2001 to October 2004. In his very first start with SHR, Almirola led the Daytona 500 with half a lap to go before he was contacted and sent into the wall – a near Daytona 500 championship for the native of Tampa, Florida.

● Going out strong: Almirola is not going out without a fight. In fact, He and the No. 10 Smithfield Ford team nearly took home a Martinsville (Va.) Speedway Grandfather clock trophy last weekend. He led 66 laps en route to a runner-up finish. .899 of a second behind race-winner Ryan Blaney. It was Almirola’s best finish at Martinsville and highest finish since his New Hampshire win in 2021. He will race for his third consecutive top-10 Sunday at Phoenix.

● History at Phoenix Raceway: Phoenix is the track where Almirola has arguably been most consistent in recent years. In his last 12 starts there, he has earned six top-10s – two of those being top-fours. He’s also led 33 laps in his 25 career starts at the mile oval. In March, Almirola had a strong top-10 run at Phoenix until a loose wheel sent him into the wall and drew a penalty for the No. 10 team, which put him multiple laps down. Almirola has seven NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Phoenix with a best finish of sixth in the November 2010 race, and a pole qualifying effort in the November 2011 race.

● Smithfield has been a sponsor of Almirola’s for the entirety of his fulltime NASCAR Cup Series career – making it one of the longest-lasting partnerships in NASCAR. Smithfield is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. Its 63,000 team members are dedicated to producing “Good food. Responsibly.®” Smithfield is one of the world’s leading vertically integrated protein companies. The company has pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including its industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30 percent across its entire U.S. value chain by 2030. Smithfield believes in the power of protein to end food insecurity and has donated hundreds of millions of food servings to local communities.

Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

You nearly won at Martinsville last weekend after leading 66 laps. How did it feel to almost bring home the win in what could be your last Cup Series start at Martinsville?

“I’m still on my game. I’ll go out knowing I can still compete at the top of the highest level. That one stung, though. My whole family was there to support me and I really wanted to get my 10 guys and Stewart-Haas to victory lane one last time. I wanted it for everyone who has supported me and believed in me.”

How do you feel heading to Phoenix this weekend?

“Hopefully it feels like a celebration. I’ll have some family and friends come out to see me race and I hope it feels like a celebration of the many incredible years at the top level. It’s bittersweet, but I’m excited for the weekend and excited for the next adventure. I just have a lot of joy and gratitude heading into this weekend. It would be awesome to unload a fast car and cap it off with a solid run like we’ve had the last two weekends.”

How do you reflect on your time at Stewart-Haas Racing?

“It’s been great. Obviously, as a racecar driver and as a competitor, you always want more. I would have loved to have won more races and won a championship. That’s what I went over there for. I have won some races, so I’m proud of that and we’ve had a lot of success, but I think at the end of the day that’s temporary. The friendships that I’ve made, the relationships that I’ve made, all of that will last forever and I’m grateful for that. I really am. I’m very grateful for the six years that I’ve showed up to work every day there and they treat me like family. I feel extremely close to all of the employees over there and they brought me in with welcoming arms when I showed up in 2018 and it has been a really fun ride ever since.”

This is the last race of your fulltime Cup Series career. How do you want to be remembered in the series?

“Just as a genuine person, honestly. The wins and all of that stuff, that’s all temporary, it really is. I had to learn this the hard way, but you don’t gain happiness and satisfaction from going to victory lane. You gain momentary joy, but it’s not long-lasting. As soon as that weekend is over, you immediately are focused on the next week and wanting to go do it again and, if you don’t, the next week if you finish 25th you’re mad and you’re bummed out and you’re disappointed and so that cycle of emotions I’ve come to realize is very temporary. But what is lasting is friendships and people you care about and doing things that you enjoy with people you enjoy. And so, for me, that’s what I want to keep doing. I want to keep working. I want to get up in the morning with a purpose. I want to go do something. I want to try and make somebody else better. For 40 years of my life, I’ve focused on just me. I’ve served myself and worried about what’s best for me and what’s best for my career and all of those things, so as I look to the future, I want to make sure that I’m focusing on trying to help others achieve their goals. From what I’ve heard in talking to a lot of people and reading a lot of books about people’s next chapter in life, that’s typically how you get the most satisfaction, trying to figure out how to serve others.”

Do you regret coming back fulltime this year?

“Not one bit. I have zero regrets because I know that it was the right decision. It was the right decision for the race team. It was the right decision for Smithfield and it was the right decision for me and my family. We’ve gotten to experience some things. Obviously, I wanted more success and more wins, absolutely. But, man, we have gotten to do some awesome things as a family. We’ve gotten to do some cool trips, experience different things. Honestly, the (NASCAR Xfinity Series) race win at Sonoma wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t come back this year. As insignificant as it would seem to many people, winning that Xfinity race at Sonoma with my family there with me and, the next week was our off week, which allowed us to really just enjoy it and celebrate it. And my wife and kids were in victory lane – we really cherished it. We soaked it all in. That moment, several other moments throughout the year like that, we would have never had and I do not regret one minute of this season. There have been trials, absolutely. But who doesn’t go through trials in life? I didn’t expect this year to be easy. I knew it would be a challenge. I knew that there would be ups and downs, but I signed up for it and I don’t regret one minute.”

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Lead Engineer: Lee Deese

Hometown: Rockingham, North Carolina

Engineer: James Kimbrough

Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Joel Edmonds

Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder

Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard

Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotton

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener

Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Jacob Cooksey

Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Tire Specialist: Russel Simpson

Hometown: Medford, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Steven Casper

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia