As the NASCAR Cup Series heads into its final race of the 2025 season at Phoenix Raceway, excitement and speculation are at an all-time high. A veteran insider has weighed in with his much-anticipated championship prediction, and it’s one that’s already stirring debate across the garage.
Later today, as the field thunders into the desert, the Championship 4, Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and William Byron, will battle for stock car racing’s most coveted prize.
Each contender brings a unique storyline. Larson, the 2021 champion, is chasing his second title. Hamlin, still in pursuit of his elusive first championship, enters with experience and consistency. Byron, the rising star from Hendrick Motorsports, seeks to prove he’s ready to carry the team’s next legacy torch. And Briscoe, representing Joe Gibbs Racing, aims to shock the field in what would be a career-defining triumph.
Who’s the Veteran Insider’s Pick for NASCAR Championship Glory at Phoenix?
As anticipation builds, veteran insider Bob Pockrass has made his bold call for tonight’s championship race.
Posting on X, he wrote, “My pick for the Cup championship race at Phoenix: Kyle Larson … top-5: Larson, Blaney, Hamlin, Byron, Briscoe … long-shot: Bowman.”
Pockrass’ prediction puts Hendrick Motorsports’ Larson in the driver’s seat for the title, with a mix of veterans and dark horses rounding out his projected top five. The mention of Alex Bowman as a long shot adds intrigue, especially given Bowman’s home-track advantage in Arizona.
Adding to the drama, this year’s finale marks a turning point for NASCAR. It is reportedly the last championship race under the current playoff rules package before new and technical updates arrive next season.
That means teams will be pulling out every card up their sleeves, balancing aggression with precision on a notoriously tricky one-mile oval. With temperatures expected to rise under the hot desert sun and tire wear likely to become a factor, adaptability could be just as vital as raw speed.
The Cup Series Championship Race will test both patience and precision. The 312-lap contest is divided into three stages (60-125-127 laps), with teams allowed eight sets of tires. Fuel windows stretch between 94 and 104 laps.
NASCAR fans can tune in to NBC for the whole event, with pre-race coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET, and with the green flag scheduled for 3:34 p.m. ET.
As Phoenix gears up for the grand finale, all eyes will be on whether Pockrass’ pick – Larson, and if he can convert his favorite status into championship glory, or if Hamlin, Byron, or Briscoe will rise to write their own history under the Arizona lights.