It is that point once more, when Earth’s premier inventory automotive collection pits a fearsome foursome of drivers towards each other amid the cactuses of Phoenix Raceway with NASCAR’s most coveted Cup on the road.
A yr in the past, this race and the title chase was overshadowed by a debate in regards to the worthiness of the ultimate 4 combatants, particularly when Joey Logano was topped champion at race’s finish. This time round, no such argument exists; these 4 males representing two superpower groups have all been within the title dialog for the reason that first inexperienced flag of NASCAR’s 77th season waved over the Daytona 500 practically 10 months in the past.
NASCAR is a sport constructed on traditions, and as has grow to be custom lately, every of the Championship 4 chatted with ESPN’s Ryan McGee forward of Sunday’s highest-finisher-takes-all 312-lap desert duel for the title, interviewed in the identical order that they clinched their spots within the title bout. The legend who’s suing the game, the wunderkind lastly reaching his potential, the two-time reigning Daytona 500 champ and the one member of this group to have hoisted the Cup earlier than.
Denny Hamlin | No. 11 Toyota Camry | Joe Gibbs Racing
2025: 6 wins, 4 poles, 14 top-5s, 17 top-10s, 4 DNFs
2025 Playoffs: 2 wins, 3 poles, 3 top-5s, 4 top-10s, 1 DNF
Playoff historical past: nineteenth look, 14 wins
Greatest championship end: 2nd, 2010
Phoenix profession stats: 40 begins, 2 wins (March 2012, November 2019), 1 top-5, 23 top-10s, 1 DNF, 10.6 common end
McGee: First off, congratulations on 60 profession wins. Once you gained at Las Vegas to start out this postseason’s Spherical of 8, that not solely put you on this closing 4, however you might be additionally now tied for tenth on the Cup Sequence wins record. That may’t really feel actual.
Hamlin: That was the mark. You need to set objectives, and coming into this season that was the one for me. And to do it in my twentieth full-time season, and I am 44. It is loopy.
McGee: Not simply that, however you are nearly as good now as you have ever been. This is likely to be the most effective season you have ever had.
Hamlin: And I used to be fairly nervous going into February. I obtained a brand new crew chief. I am one other yr older. I haven’t got my FedEx on the automotive, so I haven’t got my blankie anymore. All of that heading right into a contract yr. I used to be asking, “Is that this the start of the tip?” Properly, it turned out to be simply one other new chapter.
McGee: You might be driving for a championship contender in Joe Gibbs Racing, however you additionally personal a staff that wins races with 23XI. The one different racer I can consider who pulled this off was Dale Earnhardt. It is a membership of two. However he additionally did not host a podcast, wasn’t nonetheless having infants, and oh by the best way …
Hamlin: He wasn’t suing the game? (Laughs)
McGee: He wasn’t suing the game for antitrust. How do you steadiness all of that?
Hamlin: I am a workaholic. I honestly hope I haven’t got, like, a coronary heart assault at 50. I do not know what I am doing to my physique internally. I do know what my thoughts is. I do know that my hair is grayer this yr than it is ever been. My hobbies take a backseat. I used to have much more time to go play golf and do quite a lot of different enjoyable issues and hang around with associates, and that simply would not occur a lot anymore, due to all my tasks.
I simply by no means wish to really feel like I did not give 100% to no matter it’s I am doing. It is like chasing 60 wins in the beginning of this yr. I knew that I can not let one race slip by. However then I’ve additionally obtained the lawsuit happening, and I’ve obtained to current all the data I learn about that to the attorneys. So, I am at all times on these calls and simply it is simply nonstop.
So, all it does is it is simply made my days longer, my stress ranges greater, and I’ve someway nonetheless been capable of lock in relating to Sundays on what I’ve obtained to do. I like to work as a result of I like to see outcomes once I do work. I like to see it come to fruition.
McGee: I do know you comply with different sports activities. It was two years in the past, proper about now, once I wrote a column about probably the most awkward championship weekend within the historical past of faculty soccer. Michigan gained the Massive Ten whereas it was in a authorized battle with the Massive Ten over a sign-stealing scandal. Oregon and Washington performed within the Pac-12 championship recreation as they have been ripping the convention aside. So, if it is you on Sunday evening, lastly successful that Cup that has eluded you, is it completely different due to what is going on on? Are you going to have fun the championship after which transfer on to no matter it’s a must to do in a courtroom later?
Hamlin: Yeah, it will be separate. It needs to be. It appears to be like like as soon as I am carried out — and I’m going there to win, so let’s assume I win it — as soon as I am carried out with the championship stuff, you’ve a couple of two-week interval earlier than the trial begins. After which, clearly, I’ll shut off championship something after which simply give attention to that. As a result of then that is the closest objective to perform. So, I do separate them. That is the one approach. There isn’t any approach I can intermingle the 2, as a result of combating the nice battle as an proprietor is one factor. Doing the most effective I can as a driver is one thing simply completely, completely completely different.
Chase Briscoe | No. 19 Toyota Camry | Joe Gibbs Racing
2025: 3 wins, 7 poles, 15 top-5s, 19 top-10s, 4 DNFs
2025 Playoffs: 2 wins, 1 pole, 5 top-5s, 7 top-10s, 1 DNF
Playoff historical past: third look, 2 wins (each this yr)
Greatest championship end: ninth, 2022
Phoenix profession stats: 9 begins, 1 win (March 2022), 2 top-5s, 4 top-10s, 2 DNFs, 18.4 common end
McGee: There have at all times been names thrown at us as the following massive factor. You, the Indiana man, have been undoubtedly offered to us as the following Tony Stewart. You even drove his No. 14 automotive. Now, with a brand new staff in Joe Gibbs Racing, you might be lastly a title contender. How does it really feel?
Briscoe: To have a 1-in-4 probability at being a champion, that is what you dream about being your complete younger racing life, proper? And even now, it is fairly loopy to consider. In truth, it is one thing that even once I obtained to the Cup collection, I did not know if I’d ever have that, particularly simply these first couple years at Stewart-Haas Racing, the tip of that staff, and the place they have been efficiency clever.
McGee: The outdated guard at all times says you guys in the present day do not should earn it like they did, driving for struggling groups first earlier than moving into the big-league rides. However you’ve at all times been old skool, so …
Briscoe: With out Stewart-Haas, I’d by no means in 1,000,000 years be speaking to you proper now. That staff was such an integral a part of my childhood. Tony was actually my hero. I rooted for the 14 automotive each single weekend. Simply to get to drive the 14 automotive was like this unbelievable factor, and honestly, I assumed I’d retire in that automotive. I assumed I used to be going to run that factor for my complete profession.
However when the whole lot got here crashing down after which this chance got here up, it was actually only a mindset shift. That was very true the primary half of the season. I realized actually, actually rapidly that, OK, it is completely different now.
McGee: Expectation ranges?
Briscoe: Yessir. The expectation is to go win. The most important tradition shock for me was after we went to Bristol within the spring. All 4 of us [Joe Gibbs drivers] completed inside the highest eight. I used to be fourth. However none of us gained. I keep in mind going into that week’s competitors assembly pondering that this might be a superb one. We obtained in there, and you’ll have thought all 4 of us ran worse than thirtieth. I used to be similar to, “Holy smokes.” And even once you win, it is like, “Properly, why did not we win by extra?”
However now I really feel prefer it’s simply second nature, like that expectation is regular now. Each little element is now magnified, and you understand all about being excellent in each class, and I’ve simply by no means had that earlier than in my profession.
McGee: Do you dig that? Or does that preserve you awake all evening?
Briscoe: I prefer it as a result of I’ve at all times been the kind of individual that I do not need folks to sugarcoat it. If I’m doing one thing incorrect, I have to know so I can work on it. And you understand, previously, not that I wasn’t doing stuff incorrect, however I did not have anyone telling me, “Hey, it is advisable to be doing this higher. This higher, this higher. Here is all of the analytics, all the info.”
McGee: Talking of approaches, how do you strategy Phoenix? Do you name your teammates who’ve been there, Hamlin and Christopher Bell, regardless that you are racing Hamlin? “Hey, dudes, how do you deal with a weekend like this?”
Briscoe: In truth, nothing completely different. I really feel like I’m in an important spot, not simply in racing, however in my life. That is one thing that I used to be actually speaking about with my spouse in the present day. I really feel like all these different guys that I am racing towards, that is their id, whether or not they win a championship or not. I am simply on this perspective of: Do I wish to win it? Completely. Am I going to do the whole lot I can as a competitor? Completely. However my id is not going to be decided by if I win this championship or not.
Once I die, I am extra anxious about the place I’ll spend everlasting life. I can not take this championship with me. I am extra anxious about being the most effective husband and father I will be than being the most effective race automotive driver. I suppose that sounds most likely horrible from a competitor aspect. I wish to win that Cup so badly. And I do know I am completely different in that sense than the fellows I am racing towards. And I feel, honestly, that is working for me. There’s actually been zero strain, as a result of on the finish of the day, like I simply I do know that it would not actually matter within the massive scheme of issues.
I wish to win. I’ll give my finest effort, I feel everybody is aware of that about me, but it surely’s additionally not going to find out my happiness in life.
William Byron | No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro | Hendrick Motorsports
2025: 3 wins, 3 poles, 11 top-5s, 16 top-10s, 4 DNFs
2025 Playoffs: 1 win, 1 poles, 2 top-5s, 3-top 10s, 1 DNF
Playoff historical past: seventh look, 2 wins
Greatest championship end: third, 2023 and 2024
Phoenix profession stats: 15 begins, 1 win (March 2023), 3 top-5s, 9 top-10s, 0 DNFs, 10.8 common end
McGee: Properly, it is the tip of the season, which suggests you and I are speaking in regards to the Championship 4.
William Byron: (Laughs) Yeah, now we simply want to speak once more subsequent week as a result of hopefully I have never completed third once more.
McGee: To that time, what do you are taking with you into this finale that you simply didn’t have with you the 2 years prior?
Byron: I feel that this time round we all know we’ve got the flexibility to battle our approach out of a nook. I’ve been serious about final weekend at Martinsville and successful that race. It is actually the primary time in my profession the place I used to be backed right into a nook, and our response to that’s that we have been a machine. So, the truth that we pulled that off the best way we did tells me that we’ve got what it takes this weekend. I’ve by no means doubted that, however now we all know it.
McGee: We’re all going to make a giant deal out of a Hendrick Motorsports vs. Joe Gibbs Racing showdown. And to lots of people it’s a very massive deal that you simply, the regular-season champion, are on this group of 4, as a result of that is not at all times been the case.
Byron: I do know everyone seems to be having a giant dialog about altering the factors system, however this yr I feel we’ve got the 4 finest groups racing for the championship at Phoenix. I actually do. It is onerous to argue towards that in the event you take a look at the physique of labor for all 4 of us this yr. And as a racer, that is what you need. Profitable a championship is at all times an enormous deal, however when you possibly can level to the three guys that you simply beat and it’s this three this yr, that makes it even higher.
McGee: it is onerous to consider that is your eighth season in Cup. You might be 27 now, however most nonetheless consider you because the younger man, and you might be on this 4.
Byron: Persons are at all times reminding me of that! (Laughing) What I get quite a lot of is, “Hey man, there isn’t any have to panic or press since you nonetheless have so a few years forward of you,” however I’ve this actual sense of urgency about profession objectives, particularly successful that first championship. Sure, I plan on being round for some time, and I suppose I’m younger, however you possibly can’t assume or take without any consideration that you’ll ever be on this place once more, regardless that that is been the case the previous few years.
McGee: Simply take a look at the outdated dude on this group, proper?
Byron: Precisely. Denny was racing for championships so early in his profession and has been within the battle so many instances, however he’s nonetheless attempting to get one. I respect folks saying that to me as a result of I feel they’re searching for me, however everybody engaged on that 24 automotive this weekend, our strategy goes to be like that is our solely probability.
McGee: Like y’all are backed right into a nook?
Byron: That is it.
Kyle Larson | No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro | Hendrick Motorsports
2025: 3 wins, 1 pole, 14 top-5s, 21 top-10s, 2 DNFs
2025 Playoffs: 0 wins, 0 poles, 3 top-5s, 5 top-10s, 0 DNFs
Playoff historical past: ninth look, 11 wins
Greatest championship end: 1st, 2021
Phoenix profession stats: 22 begins, 1 win (November 2021), 10 top-5s, 14 top-10s, 2 DNFs, 10.7 common end
McGee: That is your third look within the Championship 4. I do know you take into account it your fourth since you weren’t within the drivers battle however you have been within the house owners title chase in ’22. You are additionally the one one on this group who has closed the deal and held that Cup. Is that a bonus?
Larson: Benefit, I do not know. Denny’s been right here so many instances. Byron’s right here yearly now, it looks as if. And Briscoe is not rattled by something.
What’s completely different for us is how our staff obtained right here. In different years, we gained our approach in and did it early within the spherical, so we had time to prep. We gained Vegas in 2021 and ’23 and Homestead in ’22. This time round we obtained in on factors and you do not know that for positive till Martinsville was over. In years previous, we’ve got already been engaged on Phoenix, it doesn’t matter what races you had between our win and the finale. Not this time. However I really feel able to go. I really feel assured.
McGee: There’s all this speak about altering the championship format. Mark Martin is main an old-school marketing campaign to return to a 36-race straight-line path to the title, no postseason. Others say preserve it the place it’s. It looks like the reality will doubtless be within the center, perhaps a three-race showdown between the ultimate 4. Are you good with the best way it’s, or are you prepared for one thing else?
Larson: I do not suppose what we’ve got proper now could be horrible, however I feel there are different codecs that might be simply as thrilling, or extra thrilling, and crown a champion in a extra honest approach. In Cup, it is form of anyone’s recreation and whichever considered one of us wins it might be deserving. However take a look at the Vans and Xfinity proper now. They’ve two guys who’ve dominated this yr and so they might each simply get worn out and never be the champion. You will be honest but additionally be thrilling.
McGee: Beginning subsequent season, NASCAR will rotate the season finale round tracks after a long time of being at Atlanta, Homestead and now Phoenix, every one for years and years. You want the concept of blending it up?
Larson: I like Homestead as a result of it is an important monitor for me. And I do know the Penske guys have beloved ending at Phoenix as a result of they’re so nice there. That is why we’re all glad they don’t seem to be on this 4! However the championship race deserves to maneuver round. I feel you take a look at the Tremendous Bowl and the NBA All-Star recreation and issues like that, I feel completely different cities should host a championship race.
McGee: Between Byron and Denny, this concept of, “Hey, you have been at all times the younger man, however now you are the outdated veteran” is a theme. The Artist Previously Often known as Younger Cash is now the oldest man at Hendrick Motorsports. How did that occur?
Larson: I did not actually acknowledge that till right here currently. Yeah, 33 sounds loads older than, you understand, 29 again once I gained the championship. This was my twelfth season or so within the Cup collection, which is fairly wonderful. I am grateful for you being round so long as I’ve. I am grateful to have the ability to name myself a Cup champion, however I will be much more grateful if Sunday evening I can name myself a two-time Cup champion.