Power Rankings: Stacking up all 12 Championship 4 contenders
1 of 13
NASCAR.com's Pat DeCola ranks all 12 NASCAR Playoffs Championship 4 contenders from all three national series before a tripleheader of championship-deciding races at Phoenix Raceway.
2 of 13
James Gilbert | Getty Images
12. Ty Majeski, No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford (NCTS)
Comment: Majeski is set for his second Championship 4 performance in the past three years. And any driver on this list has a realistic shot to win it all, but it doesn't feel like he's taken a big leap forward since that 2022 appearance -- all of his stats are nearly identical year-over-year for the past three seasons. Plus, even though Majeski led 48 laps in last year's finale while being out of championship contention, he has yet to land in the top 10 at Phoenix in three tries. He also hasn't won since the summer and has no top 10s in the last four races. Not impossible here, but not likely.
3 of 13
Alex Slitz | Getty Images
11. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (NXS)
Comment: As jubilant and loud as an Allmendinger title victory celebration would be, I would not begin counting those chickens before they're hatched. The Vegas winner has a little momentum going his way before departing for yet another return to full-time Cup racing next year, but that was his only win of the season and the rest of the Championship 4 are all multi-time 2024 winners. Combined with just five laps led at Phoenix in his career and just a trio of top 10s there and it unfortunately does not look good for The Dinger.
4 of 13
Alex Slitz | Getty Images
10. Grant Enfinger, No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet (NCTS)
Comment: Enfinger presents an interesting case, as he didn't look championship-capable for most of the season ... then went out and won a pair of Round of 8 races and is riding a four-race top-10 streak. So, it might all come down to momentum -- which he'll likely need, as he has led just 12 of the 1,089 laps he's run at Phoenix in his career.
5 of 13
James Gilbert | Getty Images
9. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (Cup)
Comment: It feels weird putting Byron, perhaps the early-season favorite to win, this low, but he also holds the distinction of being the latest driver in history to learn he'd even be in the Champ 4 -- he was that close to missing it entirely. Nobody would be surprised to see Byron win the title -- it's a fitting stop on a trajectory that has always felt destined for a Bill France Cup -- but it's obviously a bit concerning that we're approaching winter and he hasn't won since early spring. He's pretty solid at Phoenix, though, and won the spring race there last year.
6 of 13
Alex Slitz | Getty Images
8. Justin Allgaier, No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet (NXS)
Comment: In theory, it's possible for Allgaier to win a championship, but we're quickly amassing a large pile of historical evidence that says otherwise. Allgaier will attempt to finally make it happen in his seventh attempt this weekend, and with no wins since August, pre-playoffs, on paper it proably isn't his best shot yet. But he hasn't won any of the ones in which he was the favorite, so you never know. Plus, he has five straight top 10s in the Phoenix fall race. Could happen. Would be huge if it did.
7 of 13
James Gilbert | Getty Images
7. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota (Cup)
Comment: The Regular Season Champion, not even in the top half? Well, hey, that same Regular Season Champion nearly missed the Round of 8 entirely and likely would've missed the Championship 4 if it weren't for a majorly clutch moment at Homestead to clinch ... for his only top 10 of the playoffs since the opener at Atlanta. He led 68 laps at Phoenix in the spring, but overall has just three top 10s in nine starts there -- and, importantly, none in the fall race.
8 of 13
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
6. Corey Heim, No. 11 Tricon Garage Toyota (NCTS)
Comment: The most prolific winner among all Championship 4 drivers, Heim would be a more-than-fitting champion after falling just short in last year's finale. What's interesting is that a good amount of his stats took a dip this year -- but he doubled his win count from last year's three, indicating he may be progressing in his ability to close. That's something he was unable to do last year, after he led 47 laps from the pole before finishing 18th.
9 of 13
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
5. Austin Hill, No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (NXS)
Comment: The Round of 8 winner at Homestead added a fourth trophy to his 2024 collection, two more than any of his fellow Championship 4 competitors. A consistent front-of-field presence in the Xfinity Series the past few years, Hill should have an excellent shot to finish the job in his first Championship 4 appearance at Phoenix, where he has four straight top 10s.
10 of 13
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
4. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford (Cup)
Comment: You could make a legitimate case for this guy to be No. 1, and for a few reasons. For starters, just sheer experience -- Logano is the first driver to compete for his third title since Tony Stewart won his in 2011. His team also had the luxury of beginning Phoenix preparations weeks ago. Plus, he has a Phoenix win for a title just a couple of years ago, it's an even year, etc. The downside is the season as a whole wasn't great -- Logano is on pace for his worst average finish since 2011. Still, there feels like more going for him than not here and a landmark third title for Logano could be around the corner.
11 of 13
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
3. Christian Eckes, No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet (NCTS)
Comment: Before we start, there's a huge caveat here -- if there's one driver who may not get to choose his own path at Phoenix, it's Eckes ... who has an X on his back courtesy of Taylor Gray. But Eckes has been excellent this year, and the Martinsville winner has a 5.5 average finish to lead the series, a distinction he also holds in top fives (14) and top 10s (21, four more than anybody else). He won this Phoenix race last year from outside the Championship 4 and owns four top 10s there in five starts. Nothing is guaranteed, but they don't line up much better than that.
12 of 13
James Gilbert | Getty Images
2. Cole Custer, No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (NXS)
Comment: Could we have dual back-to-back champions? It's starting to look that way, as Custer appears primed to repeat on Saturday at Phoenix. He hasn't had the most prolific winning season, but he's been so solid throughout that his 14 top fives are the most among the four drivers remaining, while he owns the share of or outright series lead in top 10s (22), laps led (772) and average finish (10.6). He comes into the race as the defending winner, as well, and it would be a fitting end before he makes the move up to Cup for a triumphant return there next season.
13 of 13
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
1. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford (Cup)
Comment: A (wild) year later, and here we are -- he's still on top. As Blaney continues to round into NASCAR's new "Closer," the undeniable top dog right now should be viewed as the championship favorite among all Championship 4 drivers. This guy just knows how to turn it on when it counts, and it counts next week more than ever. He's mentioned repeatedly that he's a big believer in momentum, and right now there's nobody in possession of more of it.