The stage is set. With the Championship weekend fast approaching, drivers, teams, and fans are making their way to Phoenix Raceway for the winner-takes-all fixtures at the tri-oval. Known as ‘the desert oddball’ the 1-mile track hosted the last races of the season for four consecutive years and the tradition continues this time around. With the stakes higher than ever, NASCAR hopes for a controversy-free weekend, given what’s on the line.

However, that’s easier said than done. There have been changes made to the pit road, which could potentially make all the difference in how the championship races play out across the three national series.

Phoenix Raceway modification will affect pole sitters

After the chaos at Martinsville Speedway, there is a sense of calm going into the final races of the season. The Championship 4 is set in stone and just one race remains before another year full of action-packed NASCAR action concludes. With silverware on the line, it’s surprising that race officials decided to make a major change at Phoenix Raceway, having moved the line that determines the running order further down the pit road.

Earlier, the first pit stall was a little further out than the other stall from the determining line. However, that has been extended to the yellow speed line where drivers exit, just before the pit wall ends. Usually, the polesitter gets the first stall, which is the box closest to the pit road exit, and gives the driver a significant advantage as it has the shortest distance to the scoring line. However, the change on the track could have been made to make pit stops more competitive, especially for the driver who finishes first in qualifying.

According to Fox Sports journalist Bob Pockrass, even though Phoenix Raceway was the first track to have modifications made to the pit road, other venues could follow suit for the 2025 season. Teams were made aware of the changes ahead of time and will need to get accustomed to the new layout ahead of the high-stakes races. It seems to have been a common theme by NASCAR this year, as the sanctioning body has made changes to the tires and tracks at a moment’s notice before, causing a feeling of uncertainty for drivers and teams.

While the pit road modification isn’t a bad idea, as Phoenix Raceway gave a significant advantage to the polesitter in the past, the timing seems to have been a bit off. Making such a significant change right before the championship fixtures is a recipe for conspiracy theories. Speculation will be rife about the timing of the changes, with rumors flying about that the decision is NASCAR’s attempt to favor a specific driver, manufacturer, or team. If the sanctioning body is aiming to implement the change across all tracks in 2025, could the change have not been made before the opening race of next season?

All eyes are on the prize at Phoenix

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For title contenders, the championship weekend at Phoenix Raceway represents all the hard work they have put in throughout the season. While every driver will be optimistic about their chances of lifting the silverware, the 1-mile track will see plenty of heartbreaks when the checkered flag is waved. In the Cup Series, Ryan Blaney has the unique opportunity to win back-to-back championships, a feat that has not been achieved since Jimmie Johnson’s five-title streak in 2010.

However, Joey Logano has the chance to do a three-peat for Team Penske, cementing their dominance in the Next-Gen era. The 34-year-old is also on course to secure his third championship in the last six years, despite having a lackluster season. As for William Byron, the Hendrick Motorsports driver will want to build on his third-place result from last year and win his team’s 15th Cup Series title in their 40th anniversary. Being the only driver who didn’t make it to the final four because of a race win, the 26-year-old will have a point to prove.

As for Tyler Reddick, the 23XI Racing driver is making it to the Championship 4 for the first time in history. Co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, the team is currently embroiled in a legal battle with NASCAR after accusing the sanctioning body of monopolistic practices. Wouldn’t it be quite a statement if the team, representing a ‘rebellion’ against the sport itself manages to lift the most prestigious trophy they have to offer? Phoenix Raceway will be the place where plenty of dreams are fulfilled, and even more shattered this weekend. However, fans will continue to hope for controversy-free, but action-packed races with a satisfying ending.