Heading into the finale at Phoenix Raceway, Denny Hamlin holds one of the best shots of his career at capturing the elusive NASCAR Cup Series championship. After securing his place in the Championship 4 with a key win at Las Vegas, Hamlin arrives in Phoenix as a serious contender and a favorite, not just another hopeful.
But his story hasn’t been simple. Multiple times he’s made the final round, yet each year something out of his control, a mechanical failure, a poor pit stop, an unlucky break, has kept him from lifting the trophy. With the kind of mechanical issues he’s been facing in the past two races at Talladega and Martinsville, could this year still keep him away from the title?
Going by his words, by locking himself into the finale early, he says he’s “smarter” and “better prepared” for Phoenix. The pressure is real, the field is stacked, and the storylines are rich. Win or lose, whatever happens, the moment under the lights in Phoenix will definitely redefine his legacy.
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Phoenix’s weekend schedule
The 2025 NASCAR season wraps with a bang at Phoenix Raceway, all three national series and the ARCA Menards West crowning kings in a jam-packed weekend. Action kicks off Thursday with Truck practice at 7:35 p.m. ET, easing into the excitement.
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Friday revs up. ARCA Menards West grabs practice and qualifying at 2 p.m. ET, Truck qualifying hits FS2 at 3:35 p.m., Xfinity practice runs at 4:35 p.m. on The CW App, and Cup practice follows at 5:35 p.m. on TruTV. Night caps with the Truck Championship Race at 7:30 p.m. on FS1, 45-45-60 laps, five tire sets.
Saturday’s Xfinity day. ARCA Menards West finale starts at 1:30 p.m. on FloRacing, Xfinity qualifying rolls at 3:30 p.m. on The CW App, Cup qualifying follows at 5 p.m. on TruTV. Xfinity prerace kicks at 6:30 p.m. on The CW, race green at 7:30 p.m., 45-45-110 laps, five tires.
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Sunday’s the big show. Cup prerace airs at 2 p.m. on NBC, green flag at 3 p.m. ET, 60-125-127 laps, eight tire sets for the 2025 Cup crown. The schedule builds like a playoff push, each day stacking stakes. Trucks test nerves Thursday night, Xfinity flips the script Saturday, and Cup seals Sunday. Phoenix’s oval shines under lights, where history hangs by a thread.
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Hamlin’s Phoenix odds
As the NASCAR Cup Series heads into its championship finale at Phoenix Raceway, all eyes are on Denny Hamlin, who enters as the odds-on favorite to win, according to Caesar’s Sportsbook as of Monday, October 27. After years of close calls, Hamlin’s name sits atop the board at +375, signaling strong confidence from oddsmakers that this could finally be his breakthrough moment.
Right behind him are fellow title contenders William Byron (+400) and Kyle Larson (+450), both seeking their second career championships. Chase Briscoe (+600) and Ryan Blaney (+650) round out the next tier of favorites, while Christopher Bell (+850) and Joey Logano (+1200) remain solid dark-horse options. Chase Elliott (+1400) and Tyler Reddick (+2500) are also seen as potential spoilers if they can find late-season speed, even though out of contention.
Further down the board, mid-pack contenders like Ross Chastain (+3000), Bubba Wallace (+3500), and the group of Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, and Austin Cindric (all +4000) could deliver surprise performances.