At the heart of this weekend’s dramatic showdown at Martinsville Speedway, William Byron powered his way from pole to victory, leading 304 of the final laps, after holding off Ryan Blaney with 11 to go. His dominant performance not only punched his ticket to the Championship 4 but also elbowed out teammate Kyle Larson, who, despite a solid 5th-place finish and advance to Phoenix, nevertheless watched Byron take the spotlight.

While championship experience certainly doesn’t guarantee a win, the knowledge of navigating the immense pressure and distractions of Championship Week is a valuable asset, especially when facing high-caliber competitors. But the unique championship pedigree of Larson and crew chief Cliff Daniels is a significant factor as they head into the NASCAR Cup Series finale, according to NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon.

Why Jeff Gordon believes Larson’s composure could tip the scales at Phoenix

Reflecting on the final battle, Gordon emphasized, “So, having a championship under your belt and doing it at Phoenix, the way the 5 car has done in the past. Yeah, I mean, all that experience and knowledge is good to have in your back pocket.“ The 2021 Cup Series finale at Phoenix was a masterclass in clutch performance for Larson and Daniels. After a late caution, Larson entered the pits in 4th place. His pit crew delivered a spectacular 11.8-second 4-tire stop, which vaulted him to the lead for the final restart.

This season, the No. 5 team has certainly faced its share of dramatic swings. When asked about what it would say about the 5 team and Larson if they can win after a year of highs and lows, Gordon suggested the struggles extended beyond the infamous weather-foiled ‘Double’ attempt at the end of May, where rain delayed the Indy 500 and later cut the Coca-Cola 600 short. “Yeah, I would say maybe more than month of May, right? You know, it seemed to linger longer than that,” he stated.

Indeed, after securing 3 wins early in the season, Larson and the team experienced a pronounced performance slump over the summer, going through a 23-race winless streak before finally securing their Championship 4 spot at Martinsville. The key to navigating the season’s roller coaster, Gordon states, “I just think that Kyle is very unique in the way that he blocks things out. And I feel like he’s always had confidence, always been able to fall back on his talents. And his race team, his race cars to get himself back there.”

Paired with him is Cliff Daniels, whom Gordon describes as “an incredibly strong leader and a very positive thinker.” Ultimately, the No. 5 team’s strong push through the playoffs is a testament to their championship mettle.

“I think that the combination of those two and the people that they surround themselves with really helped them fight through that. But I think when the playoffs started, their performance was there. And I think all through the playoffs, I think they’ve been building up to this point,” Gordon concluded.

Their cumulative experience and their peak performance in clutch situations, as demonstrated by their narrow 7-point margin advancement at Martinsville, suggest they are ready. However, Gordon acknowledged that while Larson and Daniels have the only championship rings among the 4 contenders, other teams’ experience is also crucial.

“I mean, it doesn’t hurt. You’ve got to remember, though, too, William has… and that 24 team has battled for it. They’ve gone through the process of this week and what takes place championship week leading into Phoenix and the pressures and the responsibilities that could be a distraction,” he stated.

Byron and his No. 24 HMS team made the Championship 4 in the prior season as well, where Byron finished 3rd in the final standings after a consistent season that included a major win in the Daytona 500. This second consecutive trip to the final four has undoubtedly matured the No. 24 team, giving them a taste of the media obligations and heightened scrutiny that can be a distraction.

Gordon emphasized, “So, to me, those are the biggest things. It’s just being on the stage and the pressure of being on that stage, to win a championship, and then the distractions that can come along during the week.” For the No. 5 team, their experience is not just making it to the final race, but winning the final race at the specific venue that hosts the championship: Phoenix Raceway.

Despite the varied strengths of the entire Championship 4 field, which also includes Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe, Gordon summed up the impending race as an epic battle where “a lot of this is just the things you’ve been building on during the year to try to make sure that you get… if you’re in this position, you capitalize on it by improving your cars at that track. And I feel like this is anybody’s race.” 

On the other hand, Gordon has also recently criticized yet another Cup Series driver for a chaotic Martinsville race.

Tensions rise as Carson Hocevar’s Martinsville chaos sparks Hendrick concerns

Carson Hocevar once again found himself at the center of chaos, this time at Martinsville. Earlier this season, he was blamed for a multi-cat pileup during the Chicago Street Race after bouncing off the walls, and history seemed to repeat itself. The 22-year-old tangled repeatedly with Daniel Suárez, his future teammate, in a messy exchange that saw both drivers spinning and tempers flaring. Over the radio, a frustrated Hocevar summed it up bluntly: “F–k him.”

Jeff Gordon, meanwhile, had a front-row seat to the chaos and didn’t hold back in his post-race remarks. He quipped, “You mean the 3rd time the 77 was in the incident? More than 3? I don’t know, I lost count,” before adding, “that Monday morning meeting is going to be a tough one over there at Spire.” Gordon’s words reflected the growing frustration within the Hendrick camp, particularly as the Spire driver continues to make headlines for all the wrong reasons.

While Hocevar has shown flashes of speed and potential, his on-track recklessness has raised red flags for those watching his development. With his Chevrolet alliance tying him close to HMS, every move he makes is under a microscope. Between his run-ins with veterans like Ryan Blaney and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Gordon’s public critique, the road ahead for Hocevar might prove bumpier than his Martinsville afternoon.