NASCAR Cup Series Championship
The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season all came down to Phoenix Raceway. With a Championship on the line, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, and William Byron each had one goal: finish ahead of the other Playoff drivers.
Cup Series fans tuned in to see if it would be a comical display of desperation as in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race or if cooler heads would prevail as in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
Bell was the first, and only, Playoff driver out of contention after he had a brake rotor explode on Lap 109. However, once the dust settled in the desert, Ross Chastain was the race winner. Blaney finished in P2, just ahead of his Championship competitors, earning him the title of NASCAR Cup Series Champion.
Rich MARvelous Move of the Race
While there were many memorable moves from the race and weekend, there was one standout moment that summed up what NASCAR is all about – family.
This week, the Rich MARvelous Move of the Race doesn’t go to anyone on the track. It goes to Kevin Harvick’s children, Keelan and Piper.
Just before their dad took the green flag for his final race, they radioed in to wish him well and congratulate him on an incredible career.
Kevin Harvick's kids send him a message before the final #NASCAR race of his career. 🥺
📺: NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/4pdHBYcHUa
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 5, 2023
Certainly, they won the weekend!
Honorable Mentions
There were a few other standout memories from the Phoenix race weekend that our team wanted to highlight.
First off, Ben Rhodes. Despite being in the Truck Series, he got the nod for Rich MARvelous Move at Miami. However, if you missed out on the Rhodes’ post-race press conference, enjoy. He even throws it back to 2021 with a Mama Jama!
Buzzed @benrhodes Championship Press Conference 2.0 is just as glorious as you thought it would be, Mama Jama. 🍻🏁 pic.twitter.com/Uhdp51Oq5g
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) November 4, 2023
Next up, kudos to NBC for interviewing (and airing) race winner, Chastain. His quote, “We did something else no one has ever done,” was classic. And if you missed the Melon Smash, thanks to NASCAR social media, we have you covered.
WE SEE YOU, ROSS! 🏁
The @TeamTrackhouse driver closes his season in style! pic.twitter.com/jKEGQiczRd
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 5, 2023
Finally, the entire Cup field. They each get a nod for driving like they have a brain. The racing was intense, no one was giving an inch, but yet, they didn’t wreck the entire field in the process.
Keep your eyes peeled for one more MARvelous segment to wrap up the 2023 season.
I felt like there was good competition throughout the field making it more interesting to watch. Brad did an excellent job working his way through the field.
He did – especially after his crazy 24 hours! But I’m with you – probably one of the better races of the season.