NASCAR Championship 4 Drivers: Meet the final four vying for the 2024 Cup Series title

Championship 4 is here. And it brings with it plenty of intrigue; Four of the world's most talented stock car drivers will climb into their chariots and battle for Cup Series supremacy.

Last year, Ryan Blaney came out of the mud, outdistanced opponents Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson and William Byron and captured the Cup Series crown for the first time in his career.

This year's lineup of drivers vying for the title is as compelling as it gets, featuring both established powerhouses and up-and-coming talent.

MORE: Cheapest tickets as NASCAR travels to Phoenix for 2024 Cup Series championship

Here's what you need to know about the Championship 4 playoff field.

NASCAR Championship 4 Drivers 2024

Joey Logano

Logano became the first Cup Series driver to punch his ticket to Championship 4, qualifying for the Phoenix finale with a victory in Las Vegas. The Team Penske driver was a surprise entry in the Round of 8, only securing a spot after Hendrick Motorsports star Alex Bowman was retroactively disqualified from the Bank of America 400 at the Roval after NASCAR removed his car during post-race inspection classified as “too easy”.

Logano, who initially finished the round of 12 outside the cut line, passed Bowman to secure the eighth and final spot in the next round of the postseason.

Logano is a two-time Cup Series champion, with both times occurring in even-numbered years (2018, 2022). He has three wins this year and leads a Team Penske squad that has won two straight Cup Series titles (Logano in 2022, Ryan Blaney in 2023).

Tyler Reddick

Reddick is making his first-ever Championship 4 appearance. The 23XI standout was the most consistent driver on the field during the regular season and captured the regular season title.

The postseason was more of an adventure for Reddick, who only managed to score a race win in the penultimate race of the playoffs. In Miami, Reddick was behind Blaney and Denny Hamlin with two laps to go. He defeated first Hamlin and then Blaney with one blow to claim one of the most electrifying victories in recent history.

Reddick has three wins this year and is a two-time Xfinity Series champion. He also performed solidly on intermediate courses, with two top-six finishes in his last four appearances at one-mile venues.

Ryan Blaney

Blaney captured the crown in Martinsville and secured a place in Championship 4.

It was a challenging contest for Blaney, who appeared doomed to elimination after NASCAR controversially switched from caution to green and then back to caution early in the final stages. With the NASCAR decision, Blaney moved from the lead to the chase position on the track.

In the end, he found his way by slaloming past opposing racers, including Chase Elliott, and taking home the checkered flag. Reigning Cup Series champion Blaney appears primed for a repeat performance. After all, he has brought out his clutch gene more often than most in recent seasons.

William Byron

Byron was the only Championship 4 driver to make it through the swamp on points. He had to wait quite a long time to receive his golden ticket; At first it looked like Byron had missed something after Christopher Bell hit the wall on the final lap and took Bubba Wallace's place in the final standings.

Bell was ultimately docked for his finish, which NASCAR interpreted as a safety violation. Byron, who finished the day in sixth place, was awarded the final playoff spot, securing Hendrick a Championship 4 berth for the ninth time.

Byron also has three wins this season. Another would propel him to racing immortality.

What are the rules for the NASCAR Cup Series championship race in Phoenix?

The Cup Series championship race will consist of three stages and 312 laps around the 1.6km track. The goal is simple: The championship driver who performs best wins the Cup Series title. Points earned during the regular season and playoffs will not be counted.

Most often, championship racers fight for the checkered flag in Phoenix. However, should another rider claim victory, the overall title will go to the best finisher among the riders in the 4th Championship.

When is the NASCAR Cup Series championship race?

The NASCAR Cup Series championship race takes place on Sunday, November 10th at 3:00 p.m. ET.

Where is the NASCAR Cup Series championship race?

The NASCAR Cup Series championship race will be held at Phoenix Raceway, home of the last three championship races.

Chase Elliott captured the Cup Series title at Phoenix in 2020, the first year it was held at the track. Kyle Larson wore the crown in 2021, Logano was the big winner in 2022 and Blaney won the gold medal in 2023.