NASCAR Monday Mash-Up: Championship Weekend at Phoenix
The NASCAR Championship Weekend at Phoenix crowned three drivers as champions. Now we are in the long and cold offseason. But before we fully cast this 2024 season to the history books, let’s look back at the finale.
The Truck Series, Xfinity Series, and Cup Series champions were all crowned. All made their way to Phoenix by different paths. It was a fun and exciting weekend of NASCAR racing.
With our NASCAR championships handed out, let’s take a look how it all happened. A lot went on in the final week of the season.
Major update in lawsuit ahead of NASCAR Championship
On Friday, we had the first major update on the NASCAR lawsuit. 23XI and Front Row had their preliminary injunction denied, for now. But the judge is going to expedite the case and discovery.
This is a bit of a roadblock for the teams, but also a good thing. Expedited discovery will give them more evidence for their injunction and overall arguments against NASCAR.
Ty Majeski wins championship, drinks a shoey
On Friday night it was all Ty Majeski. He was the pole winner, led the most laps, and otherwise dominated the Truck Series championship race.
Afterward, Majeski celebrated in style. He pulled off his golden driving shoe and performed a time-honored racing tradition – a shoey. Poured that championship champagne right in it and down the hatch.
Xfinity Series practice gets messy early
Friday was a busy afternoon at Phoenix. Practices and qualifying and the Truck Series race. A lot was happening.
The most consequential moment of the day was Xfinity Series practice. Fluid spilled onto the track and wrecked Justin Allgaier, Aric Almirola, and others. Two championship cars were involved.
Martin Truex Jr. wins pole for NASCAR championship race
One of the feel-good stories of the weekend came on Saturday. In his final start as a full-time driver, Martin Truex Jr. won the pole award.
This was the second pole award of the year and second in a row for Truex. He didn’t get that race win he wanted, but back-to-back poles isn’t a bad way to go out.
Christopher Bell calls Martinsville ‘fixed’
With zero Fs to give, Christopher Bell called it like he saw it last week at Martinsville. When asked about it, Bell called the race “fixed” and said there was obvious manipulation from Chevy which caused Toyota and Bubba Wallace to react how they did.
To his credit, Wallace denies any wrongdoing and insists his car was failing. That aside, the comments from Bell were some of the most intense he has given as a Cup driver.
Bobby Allison dies at 86 years old
Unforutnate news came out just ahead of the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. Bobby Allison died at the age of 86.
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OSU/Michigan fined
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Purdue fires HC
Ryan Walters out after 2 seasons
The NASCAR Hall of Famer and all-timer dedicated his life to the sport. Of course, he lost two sons to racing as well, but was always willing to give more. A legend in the most literal sense of the word.
Justin Allgaier has all-time comeback to win NASCAR championship
My favorite part of the weekend was the Xfinity Series championship. Watching Justin Allgaier race a backup car (the car Dale Jr. raced at Bristol), come back from two penalties, a flat tire under green, and late race contact in double overtime was thrilling.
When NASCAR created this system they imagined races like Allgaier’s making headlines. It was a fantastic race and a very popular win among fans and those in the NASCAR garage.
Denny Hamlin says goodbye to FedEx
Before the Cup Series race at Phoenix, Denny Hamlin fueled speculation with a “thank-you” video dedicated to FedEx. It is true, the sponsor is leaving the sport and won’t return for 2025.
Hamlin and FedEx became synonymous on the track. Now the company is pulling out of racing and sports marketing in general, also relinquishing naming rights to what was FedEx Field.
Pace car gets loose, wrecks into pit road barrels
Of course, it couldn’t be a major NASCAR weekend without a hilarious on-track moment. Before Stage 2 began, the pace car wrecked into the sand barrels at the entrance to pit road.
Whoever was driving forgot to pull off to pit road as the race was set to restart. Then the driver decided to make a huge move and it did not work.
Joey Logano becomes three-time NASCAR champion
Despite a late run from Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano held on at Phoenix to win his third NASCAR championship. He is the 10th driver to accomplish that feat.
A lot of criticism came out about the playoffs, Logano, and what NASCAR should do. Could the playoffs be better? Probably, but for what it is now in this car, Team Penske has it figured out. They deserve all of the credit for that.