The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on November 10, 2024, at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Contested over 312 laps on the one mile (1.6 km) oval, it is the 36th and final race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season and its the first Cup Series race following the death of Bobby Allison. Joey Logano won the race, clinching his third career Championship. Ryan Blaney finished 2nd, and William Byron finished 3rd. Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell rounded out the top five, and Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, Chris Buescher, and Daniel Suárez rounded out the top ten.
The race was notably interrupted when the pace car crashed while trying to get off the track for a restart on lap 69 to begin the second stage. The driver of the car swerved to make the turn onto pit road at the last second, and the abrupt turn spun the car to the left into a brief slide towards the protective sand barrels at the end of the pit wall. The impact moved several barrels and scattered sand across the apron. The red flag was brought out for several minutes while the barrels were fixed and the track was cleaned, and the race resumed as normal soon after.
This was the final race for Stewart–Haas Racing, as the team folded before the 2025 season onwards. This was also the final race for 2017 champion Martin Truex Jr. as a full-time driver, as he announced his retirement from full-time racing on June 14, 2024.
Report
Background
Phoenix Raceway – also known as PIR – is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It is named after the nearby metropolitan area of Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.
The raceway was originally constructed with a road course that ran both inside and outside of the main tri-oval. In 1991 the track was reconfigured with the current interior layout. PIR has an estimated grandstand seating capacity of around 67,000. Lights were installed around the track in 2004 following the addition of a second annual NASCAR race weekend.
Championship drivers Joey Logano was the first of four drivers to clinch a spot in the Championship 4, winning the first race of the Round of 8 at Las Vegas. Tyler Reddick clinched the second spot in the Championship 4, winning the second race of the Round of 8 at Homestead. Ryan Blaney clinched the third spot in the Championship 4, winning the final race of the Round of 8 at Martinsville. William Byron clinched the final spot in the Championship 4, though only after original championship driver Christopher Bell was penalized in the preceding Xfinity 500 after making an illegal maneuver. As such, Byron inherited his place based on points.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points. (CC) denotes championship contender.
Driver Team Manufacturer 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Josh Berry (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 7 Justin Haley Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 Noah Gragson Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 12 Ryan Blaney (CC) Team Penske Ford 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15 Kaz Grala (R) Rick Ware Racing Ford 16 Derek Kraus Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22 Joey Logano (CC) Team Penske Ford 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 24 William Byron (CC) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 44 J. J. Yeley (i) NY Racing Team Chevrolet 45 Tyler Reddick (CC) 23XI Racing Toyota 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 50 Jeb Burton (i) Team AmeriVet Chevrolet 51 Corey LaJoie Rick Ware Racing Ford 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 66 Chad Finchum (i) Power Source Ford 71 Zane Smith (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 77 Carson Hocevar (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 84 Jimmie Johnson Legacy Motor Club Toyota 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing ChevroletOfficial entry list
Practice Ryan Blaney was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 27.174 seconds and a speed of .
Practice results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Time 1 12 Ryan Blaney (CC) Team Penske Toyota 27.174 132.480 2 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 27.205 132.324 3 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 27.233 132.193Official practice results
Qualifying Martin Truex Jr. scored the pole for the race with a time of 26.618 and a speed of .
Qualifying results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 26.578 26.618 2 22 Joey Logano (CC) Team Penske Ford 26.509 26.728 3 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 26.720 26.812 4 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 26.707 26.804 5 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 26.641 26.820 6 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 26.709 26.811 7 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 26.729 26.992 8 24 William Byron (CC) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 26.494 26.822 9 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 26.737 27.234 10 45 Tyler Reddick (CC) 23XI Racing Toyota 26.737 26.842 11 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 26.748 — 12 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 26.739 — 13 7 Justin Haley Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 26.755 — 14 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 26.745 — 15 77 Carson Hocevar (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 26.788 — 16 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 26.790 — 17 12 Ryan Blaney (CC) Team Penske Ford 26.813 — 18 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 26.850 — 19 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 26.899 — 20 51 Corey LaJoie Rick Ware Racing Ford 26.852 — 21 10 Noah Gragson Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 26.928 — 22 31 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 26.884 — 23 84 Jimmie Johnson Legacy Motor Club Toyota 26.960 — 24 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 26.918 — 25 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 26.968 — 26 16 Derek Kraus Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 26.945 — 27 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 27.029 — 28 71 Zane Smith (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 26.960 — 29 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 27.131 — 30 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 27.035 — 31 15 Kaz Grala Rick Ware Racing Ford 27.152 — 32 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 27.221 — 33 41 Ryan Preece Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 27.164 — 34 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 27.313 — 35 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 27.255 — 36 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 27.568 — 37 44 J. J. Yeley (i) NY Racing Team Chevrolet 27.772 — 38 66 Chad Finchum (i) Power Source Ford 28.148 — 39 4 Josh Berry (R) Stewart–Haas Racing Ford 0.000 — 40 50 Jeb Burton (i) Team AmeriVet Chevrolet 0.000 —Official qualifying results
Race Note: Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, and William Byron were not eligible for stage points because of their participation in the Championship 4.
Race results
Stage results
Stage One Laps: 60
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 22 Joey Logano (CC) Team Penske Ford 02 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 84 24 William Byron (CC) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 05 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 66 12 Ryan Blaney (CC) Team Penske Ford 07 45 Tyler Reddick (CC) 23XI Racing Toyota 08 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 39 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 210 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 125
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 12 Ryan Blaney (CC) Team Penske Ford 02 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93 22 Joey Logano (CC) Team Penske Ford 04 24 William Byron (CC) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 05 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 66 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 57 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 48 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 210 45 Tyler Reddick (CC) 23XI Racing Toyota 0Official stage two results
Final Stage results
Stage Three Laps: 127
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 2 22 Joey Logano (CC) Team Penske Ford 312 402 17 12 Ryan Blaney (CC) Team Penske Ford 312 353 8 24 William Byron (CC) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 344 4 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 395 7 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 312 496 10 45 Tyler Reddick (CC) 23XI Racing Toyota 312 317 29 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 312 308 5 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 389 24 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 312 3310 34 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 312 2711 14 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 312 3512 21 10 Noah Gragson Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 312 2513 11 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 312 2514 16 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 2315 27 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 312 2216 9 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 312 2117 1 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 312 3118 15 77 Carson Hocevar (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 312 1919 3 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 312 1820 32 38 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 311 1721 25 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 311 1622 19 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 311 1523 22 31 Daniel Hemric Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 311 1424 39 4 Josh Berry (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 311 1325 26 16 Derek Kraus Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 311 1226 23 84 Jimmie Johnson Legacy Motor Club Toyota 310 1127 36 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 310 1028 13 7 Justin Haley Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 310 929 12 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 310 830 18 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 310 731 35 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 309 632 20 51 Corey LaJoie Rick Ware Racing Ford 309 533 30 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 309 434 31 15 Kaz Grala (R) Rick Ware Racing Ford 308 335 37 44 J. J. Yeley (i) NY Racing Team Chevrolet 306 036 38 66 Chad Finchum (i) Power Source Ford 302 037 33 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 302 138 40 50 Jeb Burton (i) Team AmeriVet Chevrolet 294 039 28 71 Zane Smith (R) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 247 140 6 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1 1Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 16 among 8 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 4 for 33 Red flags: 1 for 5 minutes, and 47 seconds Time of race: 2 hours, 56 minutes, and 16 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television NBC covered the race on the television side. Leigh Diffey, two–time Phoenix winner Jeff Burton, and Steve Letarte called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Kim Coon, Parker Kligerman, and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane.
NBCBooth announcersPit reporters Lap-by-lap: Leigh DiffeyColor-commentator: Jeff BurtonColor-commentator: Steve Letarte Dave BurnsKim CoonParker KligermanMarty Snider
Radio