Ryan Blaney Declared as the 2023 Playoff Champion by Dale Jarrett, but Kyle Petty Objects With an Unexpected Championship Winner

As the NASCAR championship weekend unfolds at Phoenix Raceway, a captivating 1-mile oval nestled in the Avondale Mountains, the anticipation is palpable. Amidst a full field of drivers, four contenders emerge, locked in a race within the race for the coveted championship. The quest for the championship intensifies as the driver who crosses the finish line first among the final four is crowned the ultimate champion. The lingering question remains: who will seize the title?

While various analysts have already shared their predictions, the perspectives recently voiced by legendary driver Dale Jarrett and analyst Kyle Petty add an intriguing layer to the discourse. Notably, their contrasting choices add an element of suspense to the championship narrative.

NASCAR aficionados are split in their predictions for Phoenix, with no unanimous favorite

Kyle Larson has dominated the track this season, clocking a remarkable 1,127 laps in the lead. A notable 201 of those were at Phoenix earlier this year, where he began in pole position. Despite not clinching victory in that race—where William Byron emerged triumphant—Larson has proven his mettle in high-stakes scenarios, as evidenced by his championship win at Phoenix in 2021. Christopher Bell and Ryan Blaney are also in contention, with Bell’s impressive record in last year’s elimination rounds and Blaney’s outstanding performance during the playoff semifinals.

While some may harbor reservations regarding Byron’s prowess under intense pressure, his six race victories this season speak volumes about his capabilities. Thus, a compelling case could be made for each of these competitors. However, Dale Jarrett tipped the scales in favor of Ryan Blaney, attributing a surge in confidence to his unexpected victory at Martinsville—a factor that could eclipse the seasoned prowess of Larson and Byron, both past winners at Phoenix.

He expressed his conviction by saying, “I’m going with something, and we talk about momentum, or that word comes up a lot. I don’t really care about the word momentum, but I think confidence comes in. And confidence right now, to me, is with Ryan Blaney. I look at confidence and the fact that he has performed well at Phoenix in this car every time. And I think that’s a lot to be said for that. Even though he doesn’t have that win at Phoenix yet, I think he saving that for his biggest moment. But I believe Ryan Blaney is the driver to beat, in my opinion.”

Meanwhile, Kyle Petty has offered a surprising prediction based on the recent Martinsville race that promises to add an exciting twist to the anticipated event.

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Kyle Petty has thrown his support behind a driver from Rick Hendrick’s stable for the championship title

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Although Kyle Larson would have been an obvious choice, especially after his track victory in 2021, it’s worth noting that he hasn’t secured a win since NASCAR introduced the next-gen cars. Taking into account that among the championship hopefuls, only William Byron has claimed victory at Phoenix in a next-gen car and boasts the most successful season with six wins, Kyle Petty’s support has shifted towards the driver of the No. 24 Chevy, despite him finishing P13 after struggling throughout the race at Martinsville.

He shared, “When we rolled out a Daytona, I think I picked way in Byron, and I’m going to stick with Lord Byron. I think Lord Byron has; there have been races, Martinsville being one of them, that they just struggle, struggle, struggle. But somehow, by the end of the race, they make something happen for themselves. And we saw it at Phoenix the first race. I think Larson had the better car, and the 24 of Byron wins. In the end, and they have been able to do that multiple times this year, not really even being the race and a couple of different scenarios, but make something out of it. So I think he goes to Phoenix and makes a championship out of this run.”

With Dale Jarrett and Kyle Petty revealing their favorites, the stage is set for an intriguing showdown. Now, we’re curious to hear from you! Who’s your pick for the champion? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

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