The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 is officially set, and it’s a powerhouse mix of proven champions and fresh contenders. Denny Hamlin punched his ticket early with a clutch win at Las Vegas, marking his fifth trip to the title round as he continues his hunt for that elusive first championship. Chase Briscoe joined him with a surprise triumph at Talladega.

William Byron put on a masterclass at Martinsville, leading more than 300 laps to take the checkered flag and secure his second straight Championship 4 berth for Hendrick Motorsports. Rounding out the quartet is Kyle Larson, who clinched on points after a steady Round of 8 run.

But Richard Petty has not chosen his pick among the four and decided to stay tight-lipped when asked.

King Petty keeps it real

A fan asked Richard Petty on his podcast: “Who’s your pick to win the championship next weekend?” He chuckled: “Well, you got a 25% chance of picking the right one ’cause there’s four of ’em.”

Even in his eighties, The King nails the odds with that dry wit. Four drivers, one trophy, simple math in a format full of flips. Petty knows the playoff game levels the field, turning giants into gamblers. Seven champs in the last ten seasons prove no dynasty rules, just whoever grabs the moment.

Petty stayed neutral: “Right now it’s a toss-up and there’s no way to predict it or anything.”

He’s never warmed to the one-race finale, calling for a year-long grind over sudden death. His seven titles came from seasons of sweat, not single showdowns. Cautions, tires, a bad pit, or any twist can crown or crush. Petty shrugs at predictions; the track decides.

He wrapped: “It’ll wind up being the guy that wins, is the one that is supposed to.”

Old-school truth: execution trumps expectation. Petty’s 1979 nail-biter by 11 points over Darrell Waltrip echoes today’s drama. In 2023, Ryan Blaney edged Kyle Larson by inches. The one who crosses first earns the crown, plain and simple.

The Championship 4 talk circles back to who missed, Chase Elliott, strong but short. Richard Petty broke it down on NASCAR: Inside the Race, eyeing what Elliott needs to reclaim his fire.

Richard Petty on Elliott

He recalled: “I go back to when he won the championship. I go back to when he won all the road courses and everything. There was a spark to him. There was something there. Something intangible. A little dazzle. You couldn’t put your finger on it, but there was something special.”

That championship swagger, the garage strut, it lit up tracks. Elliott owned the vibe, unbeatable on twists. Two wins in 2025 show bounce-back from lean years, but the magic flickers.

Petty pushed: “I think he’s got to find, just as Steve said, what’s that line of getting in the corner? What’s that line of letting it roll, trailing the brake, getting in the corner, putting enough wheel in it, whatever that may be.”

It’s feel, not force. Elliott adapts to the car’s mood, finds the sweet spot. Third at Martinsville proved the speed, but 62 points shy kept him home. Unlock the groove, and the dazzle returns.

Elliott praised his No. 9 crew post-race, proud of late surges. He roots for Hendrick teammates Byron or Larson in Phoenix. The spark sleeps, but the door cracks open for 2026.

Phoenix boils down to Petty’s toss-up, four stories colliding. Hamlin chases the ghost, Briscoe shocks, Byron defends, Larson grinds. Elliott watches, spark ready to reignite. One race, one champ, supposed to win.