After winning the Knoxville Nationals and the High Limit Sprint Race series, Kyle Larson is now ready to end the season with the Cup Series championship. Larson had reserved his Championship 4 spot early in the Round of 8 with the Las Vegas win. But the wheelman might have trouble navigating past the Martinsville marvel.

Hendrick Motorsports’ #5 driver excelled at the Phoenix Raceway two years ago, but this time, the 2021 champion is not in a position to write off 2022’s victorious team.

NASCAR legend claims another Championship 4 contender could offset Kyle Larson and HMS’s title run

Unstoppable can be the only words used to describe Kyle Larson’s championship drive. After conquering the 2021 season, the HMS driver created the possibility of a split championship last season. Competing for the owner’s title, Larson finished first and second in Homestead and Martinsville last year, thereby qualifying for the final race in Phoenix. But it was a Team Penske driver that won the checkered flag last year and it will be a Team Penske driver who would pose the biggest threat to Larson this weekend.

With a runner-up finish in Homestead and a sensational win in Martinsville, Ryan Blaney emerged from the shadows to mark his own stake on the coveted trophy. In front of the Hendrick Motorsports stalwarts, the only argument against Blaney’s claim is that he hasn’t yet won in Phoenix. But the #12 Ford Mustang driver had never won in Martinsville either before he bested veteran playoff racers last weekend, and a Hall of Famer is ready to defend him.

In a conversation with NBC newscaster Nate Ryan, the 1999 champion Dale Jarrett examined the two drivers’ title contentions. Jarrett observed, “I’m looking at the history in this particular car over the last two years. If he [Ryan Blaney] is not somewhere tied with [Kyle] Larson as the favorite to win this on Sunday, then he’s really, really close.” Although the #12 driver did not need a bigger recognition than Jarrett, Nate Ryan also recalled Blaney’s runner-up finish a year ago.

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Nate Ryan said, “Well Blaney finished second in that Championship race last year to his teammate Joey Logano, who won the championship 2022 at Phoenix and the race. It seems as if this is one of his best tracks- Phoenix Raceway” Moreover, Penske’s #12 crew chief Jonathan Hassler wrote the most glowing letter of recommendation of all in the post-race interview at the Martinsville Speedway.

Team Penske’s #12 team’s crew chief hails Ryan Blaney ahead of the championship race

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Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney are not tied just in the eyes of Dale Jarrett. The Championship 4 contenders also have similar track records barring Larson’s 2021 win. Whereas the #5 driver has an average finish of 11.7 in Phoenix, the #12 is not too far behind, with an average finish of 11.9. More importantly, Blaney secured back-to-back runner-up finishes in his previous two races on the tri-oval. In contrast, the HMS superstar placed 9th and 4th in his most recent two starts at the Phoenix Raceway.

After sweeping the stages at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Larson had declared his intentions to continue the winning streak even though he no longer needed to win in the Round of 8. But the HMS driver could not live up to it with a DNF in Homestead and a 6th place finish in Martinsville. Blaney too did not require a win last weekend with a 10-point cushion in his favor. But the #12 driver never faltered in his winning intentions and filled his crew chief with pride.

Nate Ryan recalled Hassler’s assertive stance in the post-race interview with NBC’s Marty Snider. Ryan said, “I was struck by crew chief Jonathan Hassler who told Marty Snider in the post-race show that there’s no other driver he would rather go to Phoenix with right now than Ryan Blaney. Of course, he’s biased, but he also sounded authentic, he sounded genuine, he sounded like he really believed that Blaney should be looked at as a guy to really watch at Phoenix. He’s never won there, but he’s got six top fives there, so I think you [Dale Jarrett] are right.”

Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney will both bring their A-game to Phoenix, but only one of them can claim the checkered flag. Watch this space to know which of them ultimately rules in the much-anticipated race this Sunday.

“You Don’t Have to Win the Race”: Kyle Larson’s Calculated Approach Leading to Phoenix Could Be Key to His Success