In modern NASCAR, champions aren’t crowned until the last lap of the last race of the season. Four drivers (from three super teams) arrive at the season finale with one last chance at the title — and the highest finisher wins it all. This weekend, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, and William Byron will battle to see who comes out a champion. And they’ll go to battle at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.
Phoenix is arguably the most important track in NASCAR, if only because it’s where the champion’s been crowned since 2020. The 1.0-mile asphalt oval isn’t without its quirks and specific strategies, either. That’s why I called up the winningest Cup Series driver ever at Phoenix, Kevin Harvick, who racked up nine wins across 21 years.
So, how do you win Phoenix and the NASCAR Cup Series championship, in Harvick’s mind?
“Well, that’s a loaded question,” he said.
Harvick may have recently retired from full-time driving to become a commentator on races for FOX Sports (and host a podcast host with the network “Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour“), but the retired champion kindly explained, in champion-level detail, exactly what it takes to leave with the trophy.
A quick Kevin Harvick history lesson on Phoenix Raceway
Phoenix Raceway
Photo by: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsport Images
NASCAR hosted its season finale at the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway oval in Florida before the grand finale moved to Phoenix in 2020. NASCAR has said it likely won’t stay there forever, but hasn’t shared any concrete plans about what’s next.
Phoenix is a “huge part” of Harvick’s career — from the old days to the modern ones, after the Cup Series introduced its new “NextGen” race car and essentially flipped the track layout.
“I grew up on the West Coast, and Phoenix was kind of our Super Bowl for the touring divisions throughout the years,” Harvick said. “But that Phoenix is not the same Phoenix we see today. [The newer track] was very uniquely redesigned to have a stadium feel to it.
“The start-finish line used to be on what is now the back straightaway. The front straightaway was redesigned so fans could see it from the infield. You’re really in position to see great finishes, which we have seen. And what is now the front straightaway was banked so you could elevate and see the cars from other places on the racetrack.”
Harvick categorizes Phoenix in three ways: short, flat, and “known…
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