In a sport where champions are born in the crucible of high-speed competition, there’s always room for a dark horse to emerge and challenge the frontrunners. Last week, at Martinsville Speedway, we witnessed the rise of an underdog, Ryan Blaney, as he clinched his ticket into the Championship 4 with a dominating victory. It was a performance that put the mighty Hendrick Motorsports team on notice. The question now looms large – can Ryan Blaney upset the championship favorite, Kyle Larson, in the season finale at Phoenix?

Ryan Blaney’s victory at Martinsville marked a significant milestone in his career. He secured his first-ever appearance in the championship round with a visit to the victory lane. His impressive win not only underlined his racing prowess. But also raised the question of whether he has dethroned Kyle Larson as the favorite to win the 2023 Cup Series Championship.

Head To Head: Ryan Blaney vs Kyle Larson

In the eyes of many experts, Kyle Larson remains the slight favorite to claim the 2023 Cup Series title. Larson’s stellar performance this season positions him ahead of the other three contenders, making him the frontrunner to win Sunday’s Cup Series championship race at Phoenix.

The rules for Sunday’s race are straightforward. If one of the four title-contending drivers wins the race, they win the championship. However, if none of them secures victory, the highest-finishing title contender will take away the championship. It’s a winner-take-all scenario. And in the previous nine seasons, the champion has won the final race in NASCAR’s playoff format.

Larson stands out as the only driver among the four championship contenders with a previous Cup Series title to his name. Furthermore, he is one of just two drivers who have raced for a championship before, with a championship win in 2021 at Phoenix. However, despite his credentials, Larson’s past victories at Phoenix have been scarce. In his 18 appearances at the track, he has only secured one victory in 2021. His overall record at Phoenix showcases an average finish of 11.7, with seven top-5 finishes and 11 top-10 finishes. Larson has led a total of 382 laps at Phoenix, indicating his ability to contend but not dominate consistently.

Larson will be determined to replicate his dominant performance at Phoenix from earlier this year, where he led an impressive 201 out of 317 laps but finished in fourth place. When asked about his approach to the upcoming race, Larson told NASCAR.com, “I’ll study that a lot in case I’m in that position again and try to do a better job going forward. Phoenix is a great track for us. Short tracks have been our strong suit this year. We’d love to go to Phoenix and have a great car again.”

On the other side of the showdown stands Ryan Blaney, often considered the underdog. In his 15 races at Phoenix Raceway, Blaney has yet to secure a victory. However, his track record includes three pole positions and multiple top-five finishes. He has also secured 6 top-five finishes and 10 top-ten finishes. In terms of laps led at the track, Blaney edges ahead of Larson with an overall tally of 429 laps.

Dale Earnhardt Jr was an early believer in Blaney’s championship potential. He expressed his support at the beginning of the season by picking Blaney as his champion. And in Dale Jr’s own words, “I’m gonna stick with that.” Even Dale Jarrett, another respected figure in the world of NASCAR, commended Blaney’s growth as a driver, stating, “He has matured into the driver we thought was there all along.”

Watch This Story | Kyle Larson: A Racing Prodigy’s Dream Journey

Blaney’s win at Martinsville was not only a special one for him but also for his father, who took to social media to express his thoughts on last week’s race.

Dale Blaney admits last Sunday was the coolest day he has ever had

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The NASCAR Playoffs elimination race at Martinsville provided thrilling moments and unexpected outcomes, but the standout performance of the day came from Team Penske‘s Ryan Blaney. Behind the wheel of the #12 Ford Mustang, Blaney not only secured his place in the final round of the postseason but did so in a commanding fashion.

Throughout the race, we often saw Blaney and Denny Hamlin battling each other fiercely, particularly during the first two stages. As the final stage commenced, Blaney managed to pull ahead of Hamlin in P3, with Aric Almirola from Stewart-Haas Racing securing the second position.

Ryan Blaney celebrated his victory with a display of raw emotion as he exited his Ford Mustang at the start-finish line. He seemed ready to take on the challenge of competing for the championship title. However, the elation of victory was not reserved for the driver alone. Ryan Blaney’s father, Dale Blaney, shared the same sense of pride and excitement. He took to social media to express his feelings. Through a tweet from his official account, Dale Blaney conveyed, “Yesterday was one of the coolest days I’ve ever had at a race track.”

READ MORE: Ryan Blaney Applauds His Team’s Unwavered Belief for Never Doubting Championship Shot Despite Ford’s Drawback

As the race day at Phoenix approaches, Blaney brings an undeniable momentum. He and his #12 team have found their stride at the right moment in the season. The key question remains. Did Larson and the #5 team make the most of their time in the last two races to build an unbeatable car? Only time will provide the answer. But what’s clear is that Ryan Blaney is a formidable force at Phoenix, and he’s poised to challenge the status quo.