Championship Contenders Project Calm Demeanor Amidst Phoenix Media Frenzy

Phoenix, AZ – In the high-stakes atmosphere of NASCAR Cup Series Championship Media Day, the four drivers vying for the ultimate prize presented a united front of focus and composure, eschewing the traditional pre-race theatrics for a more measured approach to the monumental task ahead. Kyle Larson, William Byron, Chase Briscoe, and Denny Hamlin, while each possessing unique personalities and career trajectories, shared a common sentiment: the time for talk is over, and the focus is squarely on execution at Phoenix Raceway.

For three of the four contenders, a naturally reserved disposition shapes their pre-race demeanor. Kyle Larson, known for his occasional sharp wit and the industry moniker "#BluntLarson," largely refrains from offering opponents any motivational fodder. William Byron and Chase Briscoe, in contrast, are characterized by their understated personalities, preferring to let their on-track performance speak for itself.

"I feel like we’re pretty normal," Briscoe commented on his interactions with his fellow finalists. "I’m sure on Sunday we won’t be talking and hanging out. That’s 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 mind games with others, and all that 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."

The narrative of measured calm extends even to Denny Hamlin, often perceived as the most vocal and provocative of the championship hopefuls. This weekend, however, Hamlin has also adopted a notably more subdued posture. This shift could be attributed to a variety of factors, including potential fatigue from the demanding season, the ongoing complexities surrounding the antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing – a team he co-owns with Michael Jordan – against NASCAR, or the profound weight of chasing a championship that has eluded him through seven dramatic near-misses over two decades. Adding another layer of personal significance, Hamlin has acknowledged that this may be his father Dennis’s last opportunity to witness him achieve this career-defining accomplishment.

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Consequently, Thursday’s NASCAR Championship Media Day at Phoenix Raceway was devoid of any overt trash talk or psychological games. Instead, the conversations with the drivers revolved around surprisingly light topics, including Christmas plans, preferences for commercial versus private flights, and golf handicaps, underscoring the drivers’ collective immersion in the task at hand for the upcoming weekend.

At 44 years old, Hamlin candidly acknowledged the unique pressure he faces. "Yeah, I would think it would probably be me just simply because of the time left," Hamlin 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 are also seeking their maiden Cup Series championships, their comparative youth – Byron is 27 and Briscoe is 30 – offers a broader horizon for future attempts. Briscoe articulated his perspective: "Honestly, I don’t feel like there’s any pressure. 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 reigning champion from 2020 in this same playoff format, carries a different kind of advantage. Having already experienced the pinnacle of NASCAR success, he approaches the week with a sense of seasoned calm. "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, marking his third consecutive appearance in the Championship Four, expressed a sense of familiarity and confidence. "When I hear you say that, it’s third straight, it’s really cool," Byron remarked. "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 collective mindset suggests that the drivers are prioritizing their preparation and execution over any psychological games. They intend to treat the championship weekend as an extension of the rigorous 38-week grind that has brought them this far.

Hamlin elaborated on his week-to-week philosophy: "I’m just a lot looser. 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 of consistent preparation: "I wouldn’t say it’s much different than a normal week. 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."

The prevailing atmosphere on Thursday at Phoenix Raceway was one of intense focus and professional preparation. Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, William Byron, and Kyle Larson are all locked in, with their sights set on letting their performance on the track this Sunday be their ultimate declaration. The talking will be done by their machines, and the loudest voices will be those that cross the finish line first.