It’s been nine months since the NASCAR Cup Series grid kicked off the 2025 season in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Thousands of miles of hard racing later, it’s all come down to the Championship Race in Phoenix.
William Byron’s win in Martinsville last week secured his spot in the season finale. Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin already punched their ticket to the most important race of the season.
A fifth-place finish for Kyle Larson makes him the fourth contender on Sunday in Phoenix.
Larson’s the only one of the four who has won a championship before. He took home the title with a win in Phoenix in 2021 but hasn’t made it to victory lane since then at the track.
Hamlin’s one of the most successful drivers in Cup Series history. He’d finally lose the title of ‘best Cup Series driver without a championship’ with a victory on Sunday.
Larson’s teammate Byron and Hamlin’s teammate Briscoe means it’ll be Hendrick Motorsports versus Joe Gibbs Racing for the title come Sunday. For the first time since Larson’s title in 2021, a non-Team Penske driver will win the championship.
Will it be a repeat champion or a new one crowned at Phoenix Raceway? Here’s everything you need to know to get ready for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race on Sunday, Nov. 7:
What time does the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race start?
The Cup Series Championship Race is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 2 at Phoenix Raceway in Phoenix.
What TV channel is the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race?
The Cup Series Championship Race will be broadcast on NBC, the home of the final round of the Cup Series playoffs. Pre-race coverage will start at 2 p.m. ET.
Will there be a live stream of the Cup Series Championship Race?
Yes, the Cup Series Championship Race will be streamed on Peacock, HBO Max, Sling TV and Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.
Stream the NASCAR Championship Race at Phoenix on Fubo
How many laps is the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race?
The NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race is 312 laps around the one-mile track for a total of 312 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 60 laps; Stage 2: 125 laps; Stage 3: 137 laps.
NASCAR Cup Series Championship contenders
There are just four drivers who can win the title on Sunday in Phoenix. They are:
- Chase Briscoe
- Denny Hamlin
- William Byron
- Kyle Larson
Who won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race last year?
Joey Logano won just one race during the regular season in 2024 but stormed to three victories in the playoffs – crucially, the Championship Race in Phoenix. He captured his third Cup Series title, becoming the 10th driver in history to do so. He took the lead during the final stage and held off Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney to take home the title. William Byron, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell rounded out the top five.
NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race starting lineup
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
- Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
- Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
- Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
- Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
- Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
- Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
- JJ Yeley, No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet
- Casey Mears, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford
- Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet