Did a championship contender catch our attention in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race? (Photo Credit: Phoenix Raceway | Facebook)

NASCAR Cup Series Championship

It was finally upon us – the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. Three of the four drivers fighting for a championship, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, and Kyle Larson, lined up in the first three spots. Chase Briscoe, making his first Championship 4 start, began the day P12.

Stage 1

In the opening laps, Larson lost a spot and Briscoe gained two, while Hamlin separated himself by nearly a second after 20 laps in. With eight to go in the stage, Byron was on Hamlin’s bumper. A lap later, he took over the lead and ended up with the stage win.

Stage 2

Ryan Blaney brought the field to green for the start of Stage 2. However, just a few laps in, the caution waved as John Hunter Nemechek went for a spin. Once the racing resumed, Hamlin reclaimed the lead. While he got to more than a four-second lead on the field, the Championship 4 were all running the top six.

Chaos ensued on Lap 107. Shane Van Gisbergen went for a spin, and suddenly, Briscoe blew a right rear tire. Following the caution, he restarted in P32, while the remaining contenders were up front.

Hamlin once again separated himself from the field with a nearly three-second lead. With 36 to go in the stage, AJ Allmendinger slammed into the wall off Turn 4, bringing out the fourth caution of the day. Eight laps later, all four drivers vying for the championship were in the top 10.

With five to go in the stage, Austin Dillon took the pits with a flat tire, but before the stage ended, his brother, Ty, went for a spin, bringing out the caution. This afforded Hamlin the stage win.

At the stage end, Hamlin complained of a possible tire issue. A drastically slow stop followed, forcing him to line up P11, third in the championship contenders. Larson also had issues on his stop and restarted P18. Byron and Briscoe lined up P2 and P5, respectively.

Stage 3

Blaney started up front, but Byron immediately jumped to the lead. With 107 to go, Briscoe was on the move.

Less than 10 laps later, Laron blew a tire. Then, one lap later, the same happened to Briscoe. Shortly after, the caution waved as Carson Hocevar slammed into the wall after his own tire issue.

Despite the chaos, Briscoe was awarded the free pass. Chase Elliott led the field to green and held it while Byron and Hamlin slowly closed the gap.

Lap 253 saw Byron reclaim the lead, but six laps later, Austin Cindric brought out the caution.

Byron and Hamlin restarted out front with 46 to go, and it was a door-to-door battle through the next few laps. Hamlin won out and began to separate himself again from the field.

With 34 to go, JJ Yeley forced the caution as he slammed the wall with a flat front tire.

The next restart saw Briscoe, Larson, Hamlin, and Bryon line up together with 28 to go. The racing between the leaders was insane in the laps following the restart, which saw Hamlin scamper ahead with the lead.

As Hamlin took 15 to go, he had a 2.5-second lead on Bryon in P2. Ten laps later, he had a three-second lead and had all but sealed the deal. But then, the caution waved as Byron slammed the wall.

This set up an overtime finish with Brad Keselowski and Ryan Preece leading the field. Out of nowhere, Blaney snuck past Keselowksi and stole the win.

(Photo Credit: Team Penske | X)

Larson finished P3 and won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

(Photo Credit: Hendrick Motorsports | X)

Rich MARvelous Move of the Race

The decision to give the Rich MARvelous Move of the Race to Kyle Larson came quickly after the checkered flag.

The Rich MARvelous Move of the Race is voted on by Pit Pass Network team members following the checkered flag of each NASCAR Cup Series race.

On a day when the odds seemed stacked against every Championship 4 driver in the field, a positive attitude and a late-race call changed the outcome of the season for the No. 5 driver.

On the final stop heading into Overtime, Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5, made the call for two tires, while Hamlin got four.

This call trapped Hamlin behind the No. 5 car and allowed Larson to secure the championship when the checkered flag waved.

We want to extend a huge thank you to Rich Mar Florist for sponsoring the Rich MARvelous Move of the Race for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Make sure to give them a follow on social media (Facebook, Instagram, X) to stay up-to-date with all the Team Rich Mar NASCAR happenings. Be sure to check out their website for all your floral needs.