Previous to this previous decade, some NASCAR Cup Sequence championships , whereas many have been determined the week or weeks earlier than
NASCAR tried to treatment the occasional in 2004 with the appearance of a 10-race postseason format. However even then, among the title chases lacked drama on the ultimate Sunday.
The final word treatment got here in 2014, when the present format was launched: After 9 playoff races, 4 championship finalists qualify for the season-ending championship race. Highest finisher among the many 4 is the champ.
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Whereas there has but to be a side-by-side, door-banging sprint to the checkers, there’s been the drama assured by the data that one slip by the chief may upend best-laid plans.
This weekend, Phoenix is host of the ultimate race for the fifth straight yr. By dusk, there shall be a 2024 Cup champ.
Let’s roll out some historical past and data earlier than including a brand new (or previous) title to a few of these lists beneath.
NASCAR champs: 7-timers (Richard Petty) and 1-hit wonders (Invoice Elliott)
7: Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson
4: Jeff Gordon
3: Lee Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Tony Stewart
2: Herb Thomas, Tim Flock, Buck Baker, Joe Weatherly, Ned Jarrett, Terry Labonte, Kyle Bush, Joey Logano
1: Purple Byron, Invoice Rexford, Rex White, Bobby Isaac, Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison, Invoice Elliott, Rusty Wallace, Alan Kulwicki, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney
Again and again
Cup champs who’ve received consecutive titles:
5: Jimmie Johnson (2006-2010)
3: Cale Yarborough (1976-78)
2: Buck Baker (1956-57), Lee Petty (1958-59), Joe Weatherly (1962-63), David Pearson (1968-69), Richard Petty, twice (1971-72, 1974-75), Darrell Waltrip (1981-82), Dale Earnhardt, 3 times (1986-87, 1990-91, 1993-94), Jeff Gordon (1997-98).
Can Tyler Reddick sweep the season?
Since NASCAR began rewarding a regular-season championship in 2017, three of the seven champs have swept each titles (in daring):
2017: Martin Truex Jr.
2018: Kyle Busch
2019: Kyle Busch
2020: Kevin Harvick
2021: Kyle Larson
2022: Chase Elliott
2023: Martin Truex Jr.
Some shut, some not
Margins of championship victory because the present format was adopted in 2014:
2014: Kevin Harvick received by a half-second over runner-up Ryan Newman
2015: Kyle Busch completed 1.5 seconds over runner-up Kevin Harvick
2016: Jimmie Johnson received, closest championship competitor was Joey Logano, who completed fourth
2017: Martin Truex beat runner-up Kyle Busch by .681 seconds
2018: Joey Logano completed 1.7 seconds over runner-up Martin Truex. Championship opponents Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch rounded out the highest 4
2019: Kyle Busch beat runner-up Martin Truex by 4.5 seconds
2020: Chase Elliott beat runner-up Brad Keselowski by 2.7 seconds. Contenders Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin rounded out the highest 4
2021: Kyle Larson completed 4 seconds forward of runner-up Martin Truex
2022: Winner Joey Logano’s closest championship competitor was Ross Chastain, who completed third
2023: Ross Chastain grew to become first non-championship finalist to win the ultimate race. Ryan Blaney completed second, 2.4 seconds forward of third-place Kyle Larson, to win the championship
NASCAR finale wasn’t at all times in Phoenix
Since NASCAR’s “fashionable period” started in 1972, a number of speedways have served because the season capper:
1972: Texas World Speedway in Faculty Station
1973: Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway
1974-80: Ontario (Calif.) Motor Speedway
1981-86: Riverside (Calif.) Raceway
1987-2000: Atlanta Motor Speedway
2001: New Hampshire Speedway (on account of rescheduling after the Sept. 11 terror assaults)
2002-19: Homestead-Miami Speedway
2020-23: Phoenix Raceway
