The NASCAR Cup Series will crown a champion at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday afternoon.
Among the Championship Four drivers, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell and Joey Logano have been the talk of the playoffs.
Chastain made national noise by pulling off a video game-like move to secure a spot in the championship round last week at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
Logano was the first driver to secure a spot in the championship round by winning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Bell lit up the win column twice in the past two rounds with walk-off victories at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway and Martinsville.
Meanwhile, 2020 Cup Series champion and four-time most-popular driver Chase Elliott has flown under the radar.
Outside of his victory at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Elliott has quietly maneuvered his way through the NASCAR Playoffs.
Elliott’s average finish of 16.3 over the nine playoff races, ranks last among Sunday’s title contenders by a solid three positions (Logano, 13.3).
Despite the No. 9 Chevrolet’s struggles throughout the playoffs, Elliott isn’t fazed heading into Phoenix.
“I feel like we have as good of an opportunity as anybody,” Elliott said. “Yes, our playoffs has been up and down, probably more down than it has been up really for how we ran leading into it.
“But when I sit back and I look at this weekend, the way this format is, the way the Final Four works, if you’re in, you have a shot, number one. Number two, we haven’t written the ending yet, right? The narrative is there for you to make it whatever you want to and however you execute your day into being.”
As Elliott looks to write an ending where he’s hoisting his second Cup Series trophy in three years at Phoenix, the 26-year-old also understands the ebbs and flows the finale can present.
With three consecutive championship-round appearances, Elliott knows Sunday could see a variety of trends for the title contenders.
“Somebody could dominate a race and not end up winning the race or the championship,” Elliott said.
“No, I think it all has to go your way, right? Yes, you want to have pace. Having pace in your car and being fast gives you a lot of opportunities in different ways. But there are other ways to win, and there are other ways to lose, too.
“I think it all has to go your way — good timing, good people. Not only in the sport, but everything I’ve ever seen.”
A lot went Elliott’s way during the regular season as he wrapped up the regular season championship with four victories. The ramifications of Elliott’s regular season title, gave the No. 9 team a whopping 15 extra bonus points heading into the post-season.
With each round, Elliott carried those points, giving the team a boost throughout the playoffs.
“It’s a great point. If we hadn’t had the regular season that we had, I wouldn’t be sitting here,” Elliott said. “So definitely it makes a huge difference. We’re fortunate to have been on the good end of that this year, being able to have a good regular season. Have never really had a regular season that good before, so that was great.
“Super proud of our whole team for accomplishing some race wins and ultimately that regular season points deal. Those 15 points combined with the wins that we had were crucial.”
While Elliott looks for a second title Sunday, the thought of multiple championships in NASCAR’s highest level is difficult to comprehend.
“I just really believe until you achieve something of that magnitude, it’s really hard to put it into words and understand what that feeling is like or what it would be like in that moment,” Elliott said.
“So if we cross that bridge, I’ll let you know.”
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