Best of the Rest: Phoenix Championship Weekend

Phoenix played host to the final race weekend of 2024 as each series officially crowned a champion. As we say goodbye to a controversial season, here are the last chance runs for the underdogs, with many auditioning for a job in 2025. See you all in February!

Craftsman Truck Series Championship Race

Kaden Honeycutt (#45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet): Rolling off eighth, Honeycutt kept Niece Motorsports’ 45 team up front for a good portion of the race, and placed his Silverado in seventh by race’s end. This was Honeycutt’s sixth Top 10 in sixteen starts this season. Already announced, Honeycutt will return to the 45 team next season as a full-time driver.

Chase Purdy (#77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet): As 2024 comes to a close, Purdy and his Spire team have not had the season they hoped for. Phoenix was kind to the #77 team though, as Purdy would finish 12th after qualifying 10th. Possibly not returning to Spire next season, this may have very well been an audition for a seat in 2025. In 23 starts this season, Purdy placed in the Top 10 six times.

Jake Garcia (#13 ThorSport Racing Ford): Garcia joined ThorSport in 2024 looking for his next opportunity to climb the ladder. Taking over the vacated #13 Ford, Garcia and crew could not get out of the gate and searched for speed all season. The ThorSport entry had a solid last race however, as the Quanta Services Ford finished 14th. This was Garcia’s best finish since a thirteenth in Richmond.

BOTR Champion: Grant Enfinger (2 appearances)

Xfinity Series Championship Race

Riley Herbst (#98 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford): While Herbst and his #98 SHR team would not usually be considered underdogs, the finale race winner deserves a mention. After being eliminated from the playoffs, Herbst has been a constant upset to the Round of 4. On this day, Herbst wrapped his career with Stewart-Haas Racing leading 167 of 213 laps on the way to his second win in 2024. Unbelievably, Herbst does not have any concrete plans for 2025 as of yet.

Shane van Gisbergen (#97 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet): Highly-touted rookie SVG had a successful debut season in Xfinity this season in Kaulig’s #97 entry. While an expected contender on road courses, van Gisbergen has shown progress on ovals lately. Phoenix was no exception as the WeatherTech Chevrolet came home 12th. SVG will be moving to the Cup Series in 2025, but a handful of Xfinity starts are certainly possible.

Jeb Burton (#27 Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet): 2024 quickly showed to be a challenge for Burton and the JAR #27 team. Narrowly a playoff contender in 2023, the team just did not have the speed this season. Phoenix could be considered a highlight in such a roller coaster season, with Burton bringing his Chevrolet home in 16th. Burton has just three Top 10 finishes this season. Plans for 2025 are unknown as of now for both team and driver.

2024 BOTR Champion: Anthony Alfredo (4 appearances)

Cup Series Championship Race

Chris Buescher (#17 RFK Racing Ford): Narrowly missing the Round of 4 in 2023, Buescher and his RFK crew had high expectations this season. The current season however did not go as planned, with Buescher fighting for a Top 10 most weeks. Phoenix however, saw glimpses of the old 17 team, as the Fastenal Ford finished ninth. Buescher struggled late in the season, with Phoenix being just his second Top 10 in the final five races. Buescher and crew will be returning for another playoff attempt in 2025.

Noah Gragson (#10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford): In Gragson’s last SHR start, the team showed they were still focused on 2024, with Gragson placing his Mustang in 12th. In what became his first and only season in the #10 entry, Gragson collected one Top 5 and seven Top 10’s as he looks towards a fresh start with Front Row Motorsports next season.

Harrison Burton (#21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford): Burtons likely last Cup Series start for the foreseeable future in Phoenix went like many expected the whole season should have gone. After starting his Motorcraft Ford in ninth, Burton would drive a solid race and finish sixteenth. The summer Daytona race winner will be stepping back to the Xfinity Series with AM Racing in 2025.

2024 BOTR Champion: Carson Hocevar (4 appearances)