Phoenix Tag

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The final race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season was held at Phoenix Raceway for the fifth straight year last Sunday. Ryan Blaney was looking to retain the championship, but had to deal with his Team Penske teammate Joey Logano, William Byron, and Championship 4 debutant Tyler Reddick. The finale was also noteworthy for being pole sitter and 2017 Cup Series champion Martin Truex, Jr.’s swan song as a full-time competitor, and the final race for Stewart-Haas Racing before they closed doors after the 312-lapRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The final race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season was held at Phoenix Raceway for the fifth straight year last Saturday. Cole Custer was looking to retain the championship, but had to deal with Justin Allgaier, AJ Allmendinger, and Austin Hill, who were all each going for their first title. As much as the championship battle was spotlighted, it was Riley Herbst who stole the show by winning the finale to cap off Stewart-Haas Racing’s NXS program. Behind Herbst was Allgaier, who was finally theRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The final race of the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season was held at Phoenix Raceway for the fifth straight year last Friday. Christian Eckes, Grant Enfinger, Corey Heim, and Ty Majeski were all looking for their first series title during the Championship 4 round. For much of the 150-lap race, it was Majeski who was the class of the field and ended up capturing his the championship. A moment the racer out of Wisconsin will never forget after all the trails and tribulations he’s facedRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Ariz. — A full-time career that began in 2006 has come to a close for Martin Truex, Jr. after Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway. The 2017 Cup champion began the weekend by scoring his 25th career pole and led the opening nine laps. However, he only got to lead one green flag lap in that window as a crash involving Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs slowed down the race. Once the race resumed, an old foe from the 2018 title battleRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Ariz. — Stewart-Haas Racing assured they’re going to go out with a bang at Phoenix Raceway. As far as the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race, they certainly did with Riley Herbst having a career night, leading 167 of 213 laps en route to his second NXS win of the season. While Herbst had the thrill of victory, his SHR teammate Cole Custer dealt with the agony of defeat. The defending series champion was unsuccessful in his title defense as he finished eighth while Justin AllgaierRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Ariz. — Capitalizing in every opportunity has been the tale of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano and the No. 22 Team Penske crew. Whether it’s coming out on top at Nashville after five overtimes, advancing into the Round of 8 after Playoff contender Alex Bowman was disqualified to then excelling on pit strategy at Las Vegas that got him in his record breaking sixth Championship 4 appearance. Logano has kept his mindset clear this whole time — team first rather than himself. TheRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Ariz. — In the midst of facing the unknown while having a career year, Tyler Reddick has kept himself cool, calm, and collective leading up to his first Championship 4 appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series. The two-time former Xfinity Series champion collected three wins and career highs 12 top-fives and 20 top-10s that helped Reddick win the regular season championship over Kyle Larson. Following an unforgettable last lap victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway two weeks ago, the opportunity of bringing home a championship for himself,Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Ariz. — Cole Custer enters the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway with a shot of going back-to-back. A bit lost in the shuffle is not only doing so to close out his Xfinity Series career, but to end an opportune chapter at Stewart-Haas Racing at the absolute top before the team closes up shop at weekend’s end. Custer will be moving back to Cup with the Haas Factory Team in 2025 and having the chance to close out his tenure at SHRRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Ariz. — “Heim Time” is here to stay for the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series campaign. Heading into the NCTS Championship Race, Corey Heim enters Phoenix Raceway with another a shot at a championship and will be staying with TRICON Garage for a third year. Despite the controversy from last year’s Championship 4 finale where his clashes with Carson Hocevar are still burning in the back of many people’s minds, Heim takes Friday’s finale with a cool and calm approach as he gets a chanceRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer PHOENIX – It’s a tale of two stories for Noah Gragson going into Saturday’s Xfinity Series finale at Phoenix Raceway. Not only Gragson became the talk of Thursday’s Championship 4 Media Day for not shying away about his feelings for Ty Gibbs. But Saturday marks his swan song at JR Motorsports before going to Petty GMS in the Cup Series next season. Prior to Media Day, Gragson posted on social media relating to Gibbs’ comment about Jesus following Saturday’s controversial last lap dump on teammate BrandonRead More