The penultimate race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season delivered some quality drama, as Martinsville Speedway was the final stop on the schedule before the Championship 4 duke it out this coming Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.
While Tyler Reddick and Joey Logano already punched their tickets to Phoenix due to their wins at Homestead-Miami and Las Vegas respectively, the question of who would join the duo needed to be answered in Virginia. Christopher Bell seemed likely to make it via points, while Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron, Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin were in a borderline must-win scenario.
As fate would have it, drama ensued. Bell struggled, Byron took advantage and Blaney ended up winning the race. There’s a ton of other drama, including some questionable tactics from Chevrolet and Toyota, and a wall-ride from Bell, but the Championship 4 has been set — Reddick, Logano, Blaney and Byron.
With that in mind, FanDuel Sportsbook has set the odds for who they believe will hoist the Cup Series trophy when the dust settles in Phoenix. Check them out below, as the preparations for the final race of the NASCAR season are underway.
Ryan Blaney (+250)
For the second-straight season, Ryan Blaney won his way into the Championship 4 at Martinsville. He didn’t dominate the race, but he was the car to beat on the long-run, and he capped off the final stage by chasing down Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. Now, he’ll race to defend his title.
It’s easy to see why Blaney is the odds-on favorite to win the title at Phoenix. While he didn’t win the race in 2023, he came in P2 to Ross Chastain, and that was the best of all his fellow Championship 4 wheelmen. If he wins back-to-back championships, he’ll continue authoring an incredible story in the Cup Series.
William Byron (+250)
William Byron had to wait about a half hour to know if he was headed to the Championship 4 after Martinsville, but the No. 24 will race for the title at Phoenix Raceway for the second-straight season. He came up short in 2023, but he performed well until the final stage. He’ll be looking to deliver Hendrick Motorsports another title this time around.
The No. 24 wheelman has won at Phoenix before, so there’s some merit to him getting the job done. He went to Victory Lane in March of 2023, and if he can return there, he’ll leave a champion this time around.
Joey Logano (+270)
Joey Logano was in the midst of a disappointing 2024 when the summer months began to roll around, and then the veteran wheelman flipped a switch. Now, after an Alex Bowman disqualification and a win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the two-time Cup Series champion has an opportunity to make it three titles in his career.
Logano has proven to shine when the lights are brightest and the pressure is on, and this coming weekend will be no different. Bet against the No. 22 Ford wheelman at your own risk, as he’ll look to continue proving his detractors wrong in Arizona.
Tyler Reddick (+280)
Tyler Reddick was thanking his lucky stars he won at Homestead-Miami Speedway, as he didn’t have a car to compete at Martinsville this past weekend. How much of that was Reddick’s team looking ahead to Phoenix remains to be seen, and whether it pays off or not will be the question answered in Arizona.
Regardless, Reddick is the newbie in the Championship 4, as all three other drivers racing for the title at Phoenix Raceway have dealt with the pomp and circumstance before. The regular season champion is a bit of an unknown coming into the weekend in that sense. He’s performed well at Phoenix in the past, but he’s never won in Arizona, finishing third twice in nine races at the track.
Regardless of who wins the 2024 Cup Series title, it’s been a memorable season for NASCAR. Fans far and wide are interested in seeing who stands above the rest of the field when the checkered flag waves at Phoenix Raceway. Time will tell if FanDuel Sportsbook is right in their prediction.
