Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. (HHP/Blake Harris)
TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
Phoenix Raceway
October 31-November 2, 2025
The 2025 NASCAR tour will come to a close this weekend as the Cup,
Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series will make the trek out west to
Phoenix Raceway to crown the season’s champions in all three
divisions. Chevrolet stands tall entering the championship weekend as
the only manufacturer to have the opportunity to compete for all three
titles.
Coming off a ‘walk-off’ win, William Byron and his Hendrick
Motorsports teammate, Kyle Larson, will represent Chevrolet in the fight
for the coveted Bill France Cup. In the Xfinity Series, the Bowtie brand
added onto an already record season by sweeping the Championship Four
with the series’ reigning champion, Justin Allgaier, and three
first-time title contenders, Connor Zilisch, Carson Kvapil and Jesse
Love, competing for the manufacturer’s 23rd driver championship in the
division. Carrying an already career season, Tyler Ankrum is set to make
his first Championship Four appearance in the Truck Series.
(HHP/Harold Hinson)
Byron Beaming with Confidence
William Byron drove arguably the race of his career at Martinsville
Speedway. With his back against the wall, the 27-year-old Charlotte,
North Carolina, native turned a ‘must-win’ situation into an
opportunity to compete for his first career championship title in
NASCAR’s top division. The victory, his third of the season, came in
nearly dominate fashion including a pole win, a sweep of the stages and
a tally of 304-laps led en route to a position in this weekend’s
title-deciding race. Byron has competed in the playoffs for the past
seven consecutive seasons, including three-straight Championship Four
appearances. In 15 career starts at Phoenix Raceway, Byron has earned
one trip to victory lane and an average finish of 10.8 (third-best of
the series). The Next Gen era has fared well for the driver at the
one-mile venue – recording results no worse than sixth in five of the
seven events. Byron has also earned top-10 finishes in each stage for
the past nine consecutive races at the track – helping to boost a
series-best running position of 9.178.
(HHP/Blake Harris)
Larson Eyeing Second Career Title
A strong pair of rounds ultimately delivered Hendrick Motorsports’
Kyle Larson a spot back in the Championship Four for the third time in
his NASCAR Cup Series career. The 33-year-old Elk Grove, California,
native will have the opportunity to earn a spot on a very elite list in
series’ history with the Team Chevy driver looking to become just the
third active and 18th driver all-time to become a multi-time champion in
NASCAR’s premier series. Larson has 22 career starts at Phoenix
Raceway under his belt, with his most memorable coming in 2021 when he
earned his first victory at the track en route to his championship
title. Similar to his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Larson’s numbers
in the Next Gen era at the track include an impressive four top-five and
five top-10 finishes in seven events.
A Historic Xfinity Series Season Continues
What has already been a record season continues for Chevrolet in the
NASCAR Xfinity Series as the manufacturer concluded the Round of Eight
with a sweep of the Championship Four – guaranteeing its 23rd driver
championship in the division. Since the elimination-style format was
introduced to the series’ playoffs in 2016, Chevrolet has been the
only manufacturer in history to sweep the Championship Four positions
– accomplishing the feat with JR Motorsports and Richard Childress
Racing in 2017. The pair of organizations powered Chevrolet to the feat
once again this season with a trio of JR Motorsports drivers – Connor
Zilisch, Justin Allgaier and Carson Kvapil – and Richard Childress
Racing’s Jesse Love representing the manufacturer in this season’s
title-deciding race.
Allgaier Aiming to Defend
One of Team Chevy’s longest-tenured drivers, Justin Allgaier, could
rest easy in the Round of Eight elimination race with an already
guaranteed spot in the Championship Four on points. One year ago, the
39-year-old old Riverton, Illinois, native earned his long-awaited title
as a NASCAR Xfinity Series champion. Allgaier will be able to lean on
his veteran experience heading into the season finale weekend with the
Team Chevy driver making his series-leading eighth appearance in the
Championship Four. Among the remaining title contenders, Allgaier is the
only past winner at Phoenix Raceway with two victories on his resume. On
top of his wins, the reigning champion has garnered an impressive 12
top-fives and 20 top-10s throughout his 30 career starts at the one-mile
Arizona venue.
Team Chevy’s Rising Stars Get First Title Chance
Joining the reigning champion in the title-deciding race is a trio of
Team Chevy rising stars that are set to make their first career
appearance in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Four.
Joining the likes of his JR Motorsports teammate, Connor Zilisch punched
his ticket into the Championship Four following the penultimate race of
the Round of Eight. The 19-year-old Mooresville, North Carolina,
native’s record-setting rookie campaign positions him as a strong
favorite for the championship title. Zilisch has set a handful of
records this season, highlighted by his 10 wins (the most by a rookie in
series’ history) and 18 consecutive top-fives for a 2.1 average finish
during that time span. Zilisch has just two starts at Phoenix Raceway,
with his best finish of fourth coming in his first appearance at the
track in the championship race one year ago.
Despite a dismal finish to the Round of Eight, Richard Childress
Racing’s Jesse Love was backed up by a strong points cushion to secure
his first trip into the Championship Four. The 20-year-old Menlo Park,
California, native was the first driver to punch his ticket into the
2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs with his victory in the
season-opener at Daytona International Speedway. Throughout his
sophomore campaign in the series, steady consistency has put Love near
the top of a variety of statistical categories including an average
finish of 11.4 and 21 top-10 finishes – both of which rank the No. 2
team second-best in the series. Phoenix Raceway might just be the best
spot for Love to find redemption. One year ago, Love fell just short of
the win during an overtime restart – resulting in a sixth-place
finish. In his three career starts at Phoenix, Love has yet to finish
worse than ninth, with his best finish of second coming in his debut
appearance at the track.
In a race all the way to the checkered-flag at Martinsville Speedway,
Carson Kvapil and the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet team edged out the
remaining title contenders by four-points to earn the fourth and final
position in the Championship Four. The 22-year-old Mooresville, North
Carolina, native will head into the final race of his rookie season with
seven top-fives, 14 top-10s and an average finish of 13.8. Hungrier than
ever for this first win, Kvapil could become the first driver since 2021
to earn his first career victory and the championship at the same time
– a feat last achieved by Daniel Hemric.
Ankrum’s Career Season Continues with First Championship Four Berth
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Tyler Ankrum made the ultimate comeback in
the final stage at Martinsville Speedway to earn his first career berth
into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Four. Ankrum is
currently competing in his seventh full-time season in the division –
joining the Bowtie brigade in 2024 when the 24-year-old San Bernadino,
California, native took over the reigns of the No. 18 Chevrolet for
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. A championship title would add onto an
already career season for the Team Chevy driver. Making his return to
victory lane for the first time since his rookie campaign at Rockingham
Speedway earlier this spring, Ankrum will head into the season-finale
weekend with a career-best eight top-five and 15 top-10 finishes in
2025.
Chevrolet’s season statistics with 35 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:
Wins: 15
Poles: 13
Laps Led: 3,941
Top-Fives: 65
Top-10s: 140
Stage Wins: 27
Chevrolet’s season statistics with 32 NASCAR Xfinity Series races complete:
Wins: 25
Poles: 20
Laps Led: 3,775
Top-Fives: 107
Top-10s: 209
Stage Wins: 49
Chevrolet’s season statistics with 24 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races complete:
Wins: 6
Poles: 2
Laps Led: 956
Top-Fives: 48
Top-10s: 109
Stage Wins: 8
BOWTIE BULLETS:
· Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at
Phoenix Raceway:
Kyle Busch – three wins (2019, 2018, 2005)
Ross Chastain – one win (2023)
William Byron – one win (2023)
Kyle Larson – one win (2021)
Chase Elliott – one win (2020)
· In 58 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Phoenix Raceway,
Chevrolet has recorded 27 victories, including a record-setting streak
of 10 straight – earned by six different drivers between 2005-2010.
· Chevrolet is the only manufacturer that will compete for the
championship title in all three divisions this weekend with Hendrick
Motorsports’ William Byron and Kyle Larson in the NASCAR Cup Series;
JR Motorsports’ Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier and Carson Kvapil and
Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love in the NASCAR Xfinity Series;
and McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Tyler Ankrum in the NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series.
· Since the start of the elimination-style format in the NASCAR
Xfinity Series playoffs, Chevrolet has been the only manufacturer to
sweep the Championship Four – accomplished in 2017 with JR Motorsports
and Richard Childress Racing.
· Chevrolet has earned at least half of the top-10 finishing
results in 14 of the 35 points-paying races thus far this season,
including a season-high seven top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor
Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
· In 143 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet
leads all manufacturers with 67 victories – a winning percentage of
46.9%.
· With its 43 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33
NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 881 all-time NASCAR Cup
Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest
brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.
FOR THE FANS:
• Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan
Midway at Phoenix Raceway, which features a variety of Chevrolet
vehicles including: 2026 Corvette ZR1X, 2026 Tahoe Z71, 2026 Equinox
Activ, 2026 Blazer EV SS, 2026 Silverado High Country, 2026 Silverado EV
Trailboss, 2026 Colorado Z71 Trailboss, 2500 HD Trailboss, Silverado
1500 Trailboss, and a Chase Elliott No. 9 Show Car.
Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display:
Friday, October 31
· Tyler Ankrum: 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
· Grant Enfinger: 10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
· Rajah Caruth: 11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
· Sammy Smith: 11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
· Connor Zilisch: 12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
· Tristan McKee: 2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
· Carson Kvapil: 3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Saturday, November 1
· Justin Allgaier: 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
· Corey Day: 11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
· Shane van Gisbergen: 11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
· Justin Haley: 11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
· Alex Bowman: 12:40 p.m. – 12:55 p.m.
Sunday, November 2
· Michael McDowell: 9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
· Ross Chastain: 9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
· Austin Dillon: 9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
· Daniel Suarez: 9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
· Chase Elliott: 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
· William Byron & Kyle Larson: 10:20 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.
· Kyle Busch: 10:40 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:
Friday, October 31: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 1: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 2: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
TUNE-IN:
NASCAR Cup Series
NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race
Sunday, November 2, at 3 p.m. ET
(NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race
Saturday, November 1, at 7:30 p.m. ET
(CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Race
Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m. ET
(FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)
QUOTABLE QUOTES:
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
You’ve been the spoiler before at the Phoenix championship race. How
difficult is it to do that?
“A lot of that depends on how good your car is. Typically, we always run
pretty well at Phoenix and Phil (Surgen) does a great job in giving me a
car that’s really drivable there. We also get a little extra practice
which is different from most weekends. And when you’re not running for
the championship and are solely focused on winning, you can use
different strategy in comparison to the Championship 4 guys. Winning in
the championship race is just as important as it is any other weekend.
There is nothing better than going to victory lane at the last race of
the season like we did in 2023.”
What do you plan to do in the off season?
“I’m going to stay in Phoenix and hit the NASCAR banquet. I plan to get
home to Florida and see the family and we’ll have a fall crop harvesting
and get the spring crop ready. Not that I do a lot of work, but I like to
look at it and get in my brother’s (Chad) way when I can (laughs).
December in South Florida staying in a double-wide, it’s hard to beat
it.”
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
To close out the season, the sport returns to Phoenix Raceway. What is
the outlook for the No. 3 team racing in the desert?
“We tested at Phoenix (Raceway) earlier this year, so I’m excited to
get back there. We all know the Penske cars are very fast at Phoenix,
but I feel better than I did the first race around. We were just okay
there. But after the test, I feel like we learned some things that could
help us.”
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
“I would say this is probably the best I’ve felt about what we’re
bringing for the Championship 4 compared any other year. Everyone at
Hendrick Motorsports went to work on getting our flat short track
program better. We went to Gateway and we were super strong and New
Hampshire we were really good and Phoenix is somewhat similar to those
places so I feel like we’ll have a better opportunity to win a
championship than we ever had in the Next Gen era. That motivates me and
gets me excited.
Making the final four is really tough to begin with. Huge props to
everyone at Hendrick Motorsports for working hard and getting us to this
point. We have a 50 percent chance of winning Mr. H a 15th championship.
I would love to win a second championship. I’ve said this before, but
I really look up to Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon and to win one more
would move me closer to matching guys that I looked up to or surpass
them someday. We’re going to try to execute like we have been here
lately and see where that puts us.”
Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
What are your thoughts on Phoenix?
“I can’t thank Gainbridge enough for all of their support. I want to
thank my guys on the team for building competitive cars each and every
week. In the spring we had a good baseline, but got caught up in an
unfortunate situation. I’m looking forward to coming back and
contending with the guys up front. I am hoping to go out on a good note
and have a great race.”
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Do you race the drivers in the Championship 4 any differently at Phoenix
Raceway? Do you try to give them extra room?
“You definitely don’t want to put yourself in a spot where you take
out a Championship 4 contender. It’s important to be mindful of
everything going on around you but you’re also not just going to just
layover and give positions away.”
How important is it to end this season on a positive note with a strong
run at Phoenix Raceway?
“I’m not sure that I would put any more emphasis on Phoenix Raceway
than I would at any other week prior because I think every race is
important.
How does having the practice session on Friday change your strategy for
the weekend?
“Anytime you’re able to get a little bit more practice should allow
you time to dissect the car and make the necessary changes that you
think you need as a driver to be able to have a good race car.”
AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
“One to go. Kaulig Racing and our No. 16 group has a lot of positives
to take away from this year, even though the results didn’t always
show that. As we head to Phoenix, we’re focused on closing out the
season with a strong run, continuing to learn, and focusing ahead to the
off-season and building for 2026.”
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
“I’m excited to have Real American Beer back on board for the last
race in Phoenix. We’re focused on finishing strong and carrying that
momentum into next year. I’m really proud of the No. 47 team for all
their hard work and effort this season.”
Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
What makes Phoenix such a dynamic track given it’s the final race of the season?
“It’s not so much the track as it is the weekend. It’s the
championship weekend. It’s high intensity and high excitement. But for
me, it’s the last race of the season and you want to go out with good
momentum. I know it sounds silly, but we always talk about, you’re
only as good as your last race, and you don’t want to carry your last
race into the offseason if it is not a good one. So, finishing off
strong is super important for everybody at the shop, the crew, and
morale. It’s a grueling season. You get to the end and you don’t
want the last couple of races to be that gut shot where you just feel
like you’ve lost steam. So, I think finishing strong across the last
few weeks is really important as we build momentum going into the 2026
season.”
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
How do you rate this season overall?
“It has been a tough season, but I think we learned a lot as a team
and I learned a lot as a driver. On and off the track, there were some
moments that were not ideal or in any way fun to work through, but we
can look back now and say we made it and we’re a stronger team for it.
We were so close to a win multiple times this year and it sucks to not
have the finishes to show for that, but that just gives us something to
strive for as we work through the off season.”
Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Talk about your Sunoco Rookie season and how much you’ve progressed on the ovals.
“It’s been a fun season but challenging too. The road courses,
obviously, have been amazing, and then the ovals – I started the year
finishing in the 30s, but I feel like we’ve grounded out, now we’re a
15th to 10th place car on most weeks. I think how much better we’ve
gotten is a pretty awesome feeling, but certainly those first ten weeks
of the year were eye-opening. We’ve made huge progress on the ovals the
last couple of months, so we just need to keep building off that and we
will be in a good spot to start next season.”
It’s a big deal to win five races as a Cup Series rookie. What does that mean to you?
“It means everything. That’s why I moved here, and that’s why Justin
believed in me, and he knew I could do this. I’ve changed my life to
come and do this, and to come and make true of what everyone believed in
me and to execute myself and get everything right, it’s why I go racing.
As I said, sharing it with those people and seeing how much it means to
the guys who work so hard every week on the car and their pit stops,
it’s so cool. It means the world to everyone. To see the guys at the
shop who did all the prep work for these wins too, and I love the team
environment. It’s been a great year for the team.”
Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Have you taken time to think about what Monday after Phoenix will be
like for you?
“My years with Trackhouse have been the best years of my Cup career, not
just on-track, but off-track, building something with people and
thinking outside the box, being different; I loved that. That’s
something that can’t be taken away from me. I’ve been part of huge
organizations that never made me feel as important as Trackhouse made me
feel in the early years and that’s what I want to keep with me. At the
same time, I can’t wait for the future. I’m only 33 years old and
feel like I’m in the prime of my career.”
What has Trackhouse has meant to you? You were a part of the
organization from the very beginning.
“Trackhouse was literally a piece of paper the first time I heard about
the team. It was interesting to me, because I was coming from a team
that was an upstart project, but when the COVID epidemic hit, it
didn’t work out. Essentially Trackhouse was a similar project. I
believed in it right away; my dad and others did not, but my gut was
telling me that it was something good after talking with Justin.
I followed my gut, and I wasn’t wrong. I was super happy because I
believed Trackhouse was probably the first team in the NASCAR Cup Series
that gave me 100% trust. We were able to build something very good
together and I’m very proud of that. Definitely the best moments of my
career in the Cup Series have been at Trackhouse and that’s another
thing I’m going to keep with me.”
Connor Zilisch, No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
“It’s really cool to have both Justin and Carson in the Championship
4 at Phoenix. I think Carson did a great job at Martinsville to race his
way in. We just need to execute the day and make the most of it on
Saturday. We’ve made sure that everything we do is calculated and that
we’re making changes for the better and not just to do it. Before the
season started my crew chief Mardy Lindley had me fill out a points and
win prediction. I had myself winning four races. To sit here today with
10 wins and winning the regular season championship plus locking into
the Championship 4 early, I certainly have outdone my expectations. It’s
been really, really cool to experience it and be a part of it. We’ve
had bad days, but I’ve certainly learned through all of it. I’ve
become a better driver and more importantly become a better human at
JRM. I’ve learned how to treat people, how to build a team, and to be
a leader. I’m certainly grateful for my time at JRM. I’ve grown a
lot and I’m excited to carry all the things that I’ve learned into
the Cup Series and hopefully make my mark there.”
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics
Manufacturer Championships:
Total (1949-2024): 43
First title for Chevrolet: 1958
Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)
Most recent: 2024
Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978,
1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993,
1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010,
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Driver Championships:
Total (1949-2024): 33
First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)
Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)
Most recent: Kyle Larson (2021)
Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985,
1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005,
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021 (28
times)
Event Victories:
Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)
2025 STATISTICS:
Wins: 15
Poles: 13
Laps Led: 3,941
Top-Fives: 65
Top-10s: 140
Stage Wins: 27
CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:
Total Chevrolet race wins: 881 (1949 to date)
Poles won to date: 766
Laps led to date: 256,652
Top-fives to date: 4,434
Top-10s to date: 9,147
Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:
General Motors: 1,215
Chevrolet: 881
Pontiac: 154
Oldsmobile: 115
Buick: 65
Ford: 846
Mercury: 96
Lincoln: 4
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467
Dodge: 217
Plymouth: 191
Chrysler: 59
Toyota: 203