Previous to this previous decade, some NASCAR Cup Sequence championships , whereas many had been determined the week or weeks earlier than
NASCAR tried to treatment the occasional in 2004 with the arrival of a 10-race postseason format. However even then, a few of the title chases lacked drama on the ultimate Sunday.
The last word treatment got here in 2014, when the present format was launched: After 9 playoff races, 4 championship finalists qualify for the season-ending championship race. Highest finisher among the many 4 is the champ.
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Whereas there has but to be a side-by-side, door-banging sprint to the checkers, there’s been the drama assured by the data that one slip by the chief might upend best-laid plans.
This weekend, Phoenix is host of the ultimate race for the fifth straight 12 months. By dusk, there can be a 2024 Cup champ.
Let’s roll out some historical past and information earlier than including a brand new (or outdated) identify to a few of these lists beneath.
NASCAR champs: 7-timers (Richard Petty) and 1-hit wonders (Invoice Elliott)
7: Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson
4: Jeff Gordon
3: Lee Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Tony Stewart
2: Herb Thomas, Tim Flock, Buck Baker, Joe Weatherly, Ned Jarrett, Terry Labonte, Kyle Bush, Joey Logano
1: Purple Byron, Invoice Rexford, Rex White, Bobby Isaac, Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison, Invoice Elliott, Rusty Wallace, Alan Kulwicki, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney
Over and over
Cup champs who’ve gained consecutive titles:
5: Jimmie Johnson (2006-2010)
3: Cale Yarborough (1976-78)
2: Buck Baker (1956-57), Lee Petty (1958-59), Joe Weatherly (1962-63), David Pearson (1968-69), Richard Petty, twice (1971-72, 1974-75), Darrell Waltrip (1981-82), Dale Earnhardt, thrice (1986-87, 1990-91, 1993-94), Jeff Gordon (1997-98).
Can Tyler Reddick sweep the season?
Since NASCAR began rewarding a regular-season championship in 2017, three of the seven champs have swept each titles (in daring):
2017: Martin Truex Jr.
2018: Kyle Busch
2019: Kyle Busch
2020: Kevin Harvick
2021: Kyle Larson
2022: Chase Elliott
2023: Martin Truex Jr.
Some shut, some not
Margins of championship victory for the reason that present format was adopted in 2014:
2014: Kevin Harvick gained by a half-second over runner-up Ryan Newman
2015: Kyle Busch completed 1.5 seconds over runner-up Kevin Harvick
2016: Jimmie Johnson gained, closest championship competitor was Joey Logano, who completed fourth
2017: Martin Truex beat runner-up Kyle Busch by .681 seconds
2018: Joey Logano completed 1.7 seconds over runner-up Martin Truex. Championship rivals Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch rounded out the highest 4
2019: Kyle Busch beat runner-up Martin Truex by 4.5 seconds
2020: Chase Elliott beat runner-up Brad Keselowski by 2.7 seconds. Contenders Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin rounded out the highest 4
2021: Kyle Larson completed 4 seconds forward of runner-up Martin Truex
2022: Winner Joey Logano’s closest championship competitor was Ross Chastain, who completed third
2023: Ross Chastain turned first non-championship finalist to win the ultimate race. Ryan Blaney completed second, 2.4 seconds forward of third-place Kyle Larson, to win the championship
NASCAR finale wasn’t all the time in Phoenix
Since NASCAR’s “fashionable period” started in 1972, a number of speedways have served because the season capper:
1972: Texas World Speedway in School Station
1973: Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway
1974-80: Ontario (Calif.) Motor Speedway
1981-86: Riverside (Calif.) Raceway
1987-2000: Atlanta Motor Speedway
2001: New Hampshire Speedway (attributable to rescheduling after the Sept. 11 terror assaults)
2002-19: Homestead-Miami Speedway
2020-23: Phoenix Raceway
