Championship Contenders Maintain Composure and Focus on Track Performance Ahead of NASCAR Cup Series Finale

Phoenix, AZ – As the tension mounts for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway, the four drivers vying for the coveted title – Kyle Larson, William Byron, Chase Briscoe, and Denny Hamlin – presented a unified front of focused determination rather than the typical pre-race bravado. Media Day at the Arizona track was characterized by a distinct lack of "head games" or inflammatory "smack talk," with competitors emphasizing preparation and performance over psychological warfare.

For three of the four contenders, an inherent humility and a preference for letting their on-track results speak for themselves define their personalities. Reigning champion Kyle Larson, while known for occasional sharp, industry-insider quips, does not actively seek to provide rivals with motivational material. Chase Briscoe and William Byron, both seeking their first Cup Series championship, are characteristically understated, their work ethic and consistent performance serving as their primary form of communication.

"I feel like we’re pretty normal," Briscoe remarked when discussing his interactions with his fellow finalists. "I’m sure Sunday we’re not going to be talking and hanging out. Just how media works. You’re just around ’em a lot. I don’t know, I’ve seen it from the fan side. Tony (Stewart) would play head games with the others, and all this stuff, and I just don’t feel like there’s any of that here. Maybe I’m just naive and easygoing and talking to everybody."

Even Denny Hamlin, often perceived as the most vocally assertive of the group, adopted a subdued demeanor. Hamlin, a seasoned veteran with 19 seasons in the Cup Series, has come agonizingly close to a championship on seven prior occasions, each ending in dramatic fashion. His presence in the championship four this year is particularly poignant, as he has acknowledged this may be one of his father’s final opportunities to witness him achieve this career-defining milestone. Adding to his current circumstances, Hamlin is also a co-owner of 23XI Racing, a team currently engaged in an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, a situation that may contribute to a more measured approach off the track.

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The media day discussions, rather than delving into psychological tactics, focused on lighter fare such as holiday plans, travel preferences, and golf handicaps. This atmosphere of professional respect and singular focus underscores the high stakes of the weekend’s finale.

Hamlin, at 44 years old, candidly acknowledged the unique pressure he faces. "Yeah, I would think it would probably be me just simply because of the time left," he stated. "Is this my last opportunity or not? I think any format change that’s coming that seems like it will be a bigger sample size should be better for me, in general. You just never know. You always have to seize the moment, like, right there in front of you. I would certainly probably confirm that the pressure is probably most on me because these guys know they got a long way to go."

While Byron and Briscoe, aged 27 and 30 respectively, are also seeking their maiden championships, they possess more perceived career runway than Hamlin. Briscoe, in particular, expressed a surprising lack of pressure. "Honestly, I don’t feel like there’s any pressure," he admitted. "That probably sounds weird to say. Nobody really expected us to be here anyway, so… Yeah, there’s really no pressure. I feel like there’s more pressure next year with how good this year went, now the expectations are there. This year there was really no expectation for anything outside of maybe winning a race. Yeah, not a whole lot of pressure. Like I said, I’m sure Sunday will feel different. Right now, I don’t know, it doesn’t feel any different, if I’m being honest."

Larson, the 2020 Cup Series champion, is the only driver in the field with prior championship experience. This familiarity, he believes, contributes to a calmer disposition. "Maybe having a championship before, you know what it feels like," Larson explained. "That already takes some ease or some pressure off of how big this event is, what it could mean to your career. Yeah, I’m thankful to have one. Obviously I want two. I think because I do have one already, I don’t overthink the week and the moment and all that. I’m not sure if they overthink it, too. I know how I felt in 2021. I do feel probably different now."

William Byron, making his third consecutive appearance in the Championship Four, views his recurring presence as a testament to his team’s consistent performance. "When I hear you say that, it’s third straight, it’s really cool," Byron said. "We should take pride in that as a team honestly because it’s hard to do, especially with this NextGen car. So yeah, it’s exciting. It’s all that our team’s kind of been here and done this before. Yeah, I think it just kind of narrows the focus. I think it just kind of makes it clearer. The track hasn’t changed. We’ve been in these positions. It’s very routine."

This consistent theme of routine and focus permeates the drivers’ approaches. The consensus is to treat the championship weekend as an extension of the typical 38-week grind that brought them to this point.

Hamlin elaborated on his week-to-week strategy. "I’m just a lot looser," he said. "Certainly, just living this week-to-week. I’ve said it quite a bit, I’m just trying to count wins. If you try to start the year and say ‘we are going to win the championship,’ it’s really hard to work this sport backwards from the result to the execution of the result. I just have been very week-to-week on ‘how do I win the weekend.’ Obviously, winning the most races confirms that’s the right approach. It’s allowed me to be looser with it, not chase points as much or anything like that. Just capitalize on the week that we can win. Had some good results."

Larson echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of consistent preparation. "I wouldn’t say it’s much different than a normal week," Larson commented. "I think we on the 5 team, I can’t speak for them, but for us, I feel like we prepare really good every week. We prepare like every race is the finale. I think it doesn’t change when we come to Phoenix. Obviously, there’s more on the line, but I don’t think you want to skew too far from what you’re used to."

As practice commences on Friday, the narrative from Championship Media Day at Phoenix Raceway is clear: the four finalists are dialed in, prioritizing track execution over any form of verbal sparring. Their focus is on delivering their most compelling arguments on the asphalt come Sunday, where the loudest statements are expected to be made.