Well, it's here. The 2023 NASCAR season officially comes to an end on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix as the Championship Four race takes place in the desert at Phoenix Raceway. Ryan Blaney just won in Martinsville and heads into this event for all the marbles as one of the favorites at +325. But, there are actually just four drivers to focus on here despite a full field for the race. Kyle Larson leads the way at +205 while William Byron sits at +325 and Christopher Bell is at +500. Joey Logano is the reigning champ in Phoenix and won the 2022 Cup Series title but he was actually eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs in Bristol. Keep reading for the NASCAR Championship picks.
Before we get into the analysis, odds, and predictions for this race, check out our how-to bet on NASCAR page.
NASCAR Championship Odds
| Driver |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Larson | +205 | +215 | +225 |
| Ryan Blaney | +325 | +350 | +325 |
| William Byron | +325 | +325 | +350 |
| Christopher Bell | +500 | +450 | +525 |
As previously mentioned, there are just four drivers in contention for the championship on Sunday. That's based on their performances over the last nine weeks of the playoffs. The past three winners of the Cup Series title did so by taking home top spot in Phoenix. The weather is expected to be nice and sunny this weekend. Every single driver starts at 5,000 points apiece here. Playoff showings prior to this do not matter. Whoever finishes highest in Phoenix out of the four will lift the grand prize.
Preview
Kyle Larson (+205)
Larson found himself as a favorite for countless races throughout the season. That was well deserved though considering he is one of the last men standing, right? Larson won at Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago and was also sixth in Martinsville on Sunday. He's also had numerous top-10 finishes throughout the playoffs. Larson was actually the first driver to qualify for Phoenix which means his team has had many weeks to analyze the track. That could give him an edge. Plus, he won the 2021 title at Phoenix and has enjoyed success on other occasions on this track as well. Larson is a seasoned veteran who is capable of producing goods on the biggest stage. You simply cannot count him out in the championship race.
Ryan Blaney (+325)
What about the driver who is hot? As previously mentioned, Blaney took top spot at Martinsville. But, he was also second in Miami and sixth in Vegas. You can't really get any better than that. The 29-year-old is in fantastic form. He was also second in this exact race last year finished second in the spring Phoenix race, too. Blaney has led for more than 90 laps in several of his past Phoenix appearances and certainly is high on confidence at the moment. Blaney hasn't finished outside of the top five in Phoenix in over two years. Everything points to him being the top dog of these four drivers when it's all said and done on Sunday. If he did win, it would be Blaney's first-ever Cup Series title. A massive accomplishment, to say the least.
William Byron (+325)
Byron really looked good all season long and has quite the streak going right now. He's finished top-10 in six of his last seven races. While Byron was 13th in Martinsville, he was first in Texas, second in Talladega, and second in Charlotte. And guess what? Byron won the Phoenix spring race and placed sixth last November. There's an impressive track record at Avondale for the Chevrolet star. Byron was in the top three in the Cup Series standings for most of the regular season, too. He has a Cup Series-best 20 top-10 finishes this season. He's never won it all in his career.
Christopher Bell (+500)
Bell had a really nice campaign with two wins, 10 top-five finishes, and 19 top-10s. He's driving well currently too, finishing second in Vegas, winning Miami, and locking down seventh in Martinsville. He's finished top-10 in six of his last eight outings. He's had some success in Phoenix as well, finishing sixth in the spring and 10th last year in the championship race. He's worth a look on Sunday at +500.
NASCAR Championship Picks
While any of these four could truly turn up and win it, the one I'm eyeing is Blaney. He's on absolute fire and should make it happen on Sunday. Lock in that +325 with confidence.
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